Government  

Elrich Proposes Property Tax Increase

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has proposed a 10-cent property tax increase to exclusively fund schools.

According to the county, when adjusted for inflation, per-pupil spending in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has decreased more than $3,000 compared to 2010. 

Elrich made the proposal during a press conference Wednesday announcing his recommended Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 operating budget. If the county council approves the budget, it would include the largest ever allocation for MCPS at $3.2 billion, a $288.5 million increase from the FY23 budget.

Montgomery County currently has the second-lowest residential property tax rate and lowest commercial property tax in the National Capital Region, per the county. In Maryland, 11 of 24 jurisdictions have a higher property tax rate than this county.

“Recommending a ten-cent increase on the property tax was not an easy decision,” Elrich said in a written statement. “But we are clearly at an inflection point, and preservation of our schools, ensuring our ability to retain and recruit the best educators, and ensuring their progress in producing the kind of students that we expect our school system to produce are challenges that we cannot turn our backs on.”

During a joint union press conference following Elrich’s briefing, SEIU Local 500 President Pia Morrison said the proposed budget would not be able to meet their members’ needs without the 10-cent increase. She said if per-pupil spending has dropped, it essentially means the county is not making the investment to close the achievement gap that all school systems are working toward.

“In order to do that, you have to be able to pay the people who do the work and to invest in training programs and mediation and tutoring for students so that they can reach their academic goals,” Morrison said.

Elrich’s overall recommended operating budget is $6.8 billion, a 7.7% increase from FY23.

Write a Comment

Related Articles