Montgomery County Council Meeting - April 21, 2026

On Tuesday, April 21, 2026, the Montgomery County Council met in Rockville, Maryland, for morning proclamations, public hearings on FY27 tax-rate proposals, a Capital Improvements Program (CIP) briefing, a legislative session, afternoon proclamations, supplemental-appropriation public hearings/actions, District Council introductions, and a Youth Safety and Security briefing. The Council recessed at 10:53 a.m. and reconvened at 1:00 p.m., adjourning at 3:54 p.m.

Proclamations

• Building Safety Month: Council President Fani-González and County Executive Elrich proclaimed May 2026 as Building Safety Month. DPS offered 300 free residential deck inspections beginning May 1 and a permitting open house May 20.
• Therapy Animal Appreciation Month: Council President Fani-González and Vice President Balcombe proclaimed April 2026; representatives of therapy-dog organizations attended.
• Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce 100th Anniversary: Councilmembers Friedson and Stewart honored the Chamber's century; a board member urged an economic development plan that grows the economy without tax increases.
• Autism Acceptance Month: Councilmember Jawando and County Executive Elrich presented the proclamation; officials cited 4,205 MCPS students with autism in 2023, up 15% from 3,649 in 2022, and more than 450 children served by the autism waiver.

Public Comments & Testimony

Public hearings were held on the FY27 real property tax rate increase and the resolution to increase the county income tax rate. The record remained open until the close of business on April 22, 2026, and a GO Committee worksession was scheduled for April 29, 2026.

• Angela Franco (Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce): opposed the proposed 6.3-cent property tax increase and the income tax increase from 3.2% to 3.3%; noted the county budget grew to $7.6 billion over a decade.
• Mr. Pajab (resident and small-business owner): opposed the property tax increase, citing federal contracting losses, inflation, and rising assessments creating a double whammy.
• Jackie Bennett (Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors): opposed the property tax increase; said the county created its own fiscal cliff and residents face assessment growth and a structural deficit over $257 million.
• Glenn Wright (retired senior): opposed the increase; his property taxes rose 66.5% in seven years; argued the senior tax credit limit is inadequate.
• Chip Berman (business owner): testified against the increase, describing personal business losses, $43,000 in income taxes paid, and $174,000 in property taxes paid.
• Moet Segel (Potomac resident and business owner): opposed the increase; criticized the county for substituting taxes and not tightening spending.
• Paul Salatin (Silver Spring resident): supported holding the property tax rate steady and restructuring the income tax; argued the property tax is inflexible and less fair than a progressive income tax.
• Teresa Boscher (67-year-old veteran and homeowner): opposed both tax increases; criticized MCPS fiscal decisions and proposed a flat school assessment or two-tier system based on school use.

Discussion Items

FY27-32 CIP Update

• Staff reported a six-year gap of approximately $417.6 million between Council-approved Spending Affordability Guidelines and the County Executive's bond and PAYGO assumptions; the transcript also cited $418 million. The Executive's January recommendation included $172.7 million in project cuts and undesignated reductions for MCPS, the college, and parks.
• MCPS's six-year CIP request was about $1 billion above the amended CIP; the County Executive's plan funded roughly one-third of that increase.
• Councilmember Jawando noted a $390 million difference between the Executive's planned bond issuance and the Council's SAG, and that exceeding SAG requires eight votes. Councilmembers Glass and Stewart asked for combined analysis of debt service and PAYGO impacts; staff said the CIP and operating budgets would be reconciled in sync. Vice President Balcombe questioned how undesignated reductions worked.

Youth Safety and Security Briefing

• DHHS described the Youth Resilience Initiative, a public youth data dashboard, Street Outreach Network, Safe Space, and coordinated responses to incidents including the Wooton High School shooting, Blair High School violence, and the Rio youth takeover.
• MCPD described Community Engagement Officers, behavioral threat assessment, officer training, summer programs, and partnerships with municipal police departments.
• MCPS described districtwide Standard Response Protocol, safety audits, digital mapping, security technology, and data showing declining fights and attacks but rising drug-related incidents. Nineteen high schools have wellness centers. Board President Rivera-Oven noted the lack of a local youth residential treatment program.
• Councilmembers raised MOU improvements, avoiding stigmatizing violence-prevention language, principal autonomy, school safety audit communication, reporting delays, early intervention, reintegration after law enforcement contact, community follow-up after incidents, and strengthening Street Outreach Network relationships in Germantown and Clarksburg.

Consent Calendar

• Item A was removed for separate consideration. The remaining consent calendar items were approved 11-0:
  • Introduced Supplemental Appropriation #26-43 ($100,050 for roadside tree protection; public hearing scheduled May 5, 2026).
  • Adopted Resolution 20-1085 appointing Nidal & Nace as Special Counsel for consumer protection cases.
  • Adopted Resolution 20-1086 authorizing the FY27 Annual Transportation Plan Grant application.
  • Adopted Resolution 20-1087 amending the FY25-30 CIP and approving a $500,000 GO Bond appropriation for the Poolesville Highway Depot.
  • Confirmed appointments: Debbie Anderson (Animal Services Advisory Committee); Rachel Bonas, Summer Cook, Evelyn Okutu, Beverly Coleman, Denise Fredericks, Lawrence Graham, Timothy Robinson, Claudia Simmons, Joseph Feldman (Community Action Board); Avital Graves (Interagency Commission on Homelessness); and John Diehm, Stephanie Helsing (Silver Spring Urban District Advisory Committee).

Key Outcomes

• Enacted Expedited Bill 13-26, the ICE Out Act, as amended, by an 11-0 roll call vote. Councilmember Luedtke's amendment aligning the detention-facility definition with State HB 1017 passed unanimously; her earlier NEPA/APA amendment was withdrawn.
• A motion to add approval of amendments to the Council Rules of Procedure to the April 28, 2026 agenda failed for lack of a second; the resolution was introduced.
• Adopted Supplemental Appropriation #26-56 (Food Aggregation Grant Program, $300,000 private grant) 10-0, with Councilmember Jawando temporarily absent.
• Adopted Supplemental Appropriation #26-64 (Continuum of Care Planning Activities Grant, $502,167 federal grant). The minutes record 11 yeas while also stating Jawando was absent; the transcript indicates voice approval without objection, a discrepancy noted here.
• Introduced ZTA 26-06 (Accessory Residential Uses – Accessory Dwelling Unit) and ZTA 26-07 (Solar Collection System – Use Standards); public hearings are scheduled for June 9, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.