At his State of the County speech on Thursday night, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich referred to “tough choices ahead,” including how the Maryland county will find ways to fund everything from education to environmental programs.
As part of his funding strategy, Elrich proposed changing the way he wants to fund the school system. Instead of raising the county’s property tax rate, he explained during a briefing with reporters Wednesday, that he’s proposed boosting the income tax rate in the county.
“The state has changed the law to let counties raise their income tax from 3.2 to 3.3%, and I’m proposing we go that route instead,” Elrich said. “It’s more progressive and allows us to eliminate the property tax increase altogether.”
His original proposal would have raised the property tax by 3.5%.
The Montgomery County school board approved a $3.6 billion operating budget, saying in its letter to Elrich and the county council that it includes “corrective measures” that would help to improve math and literacy rates, support campus safety and achieve other priorities.
In Wednesday’s briefing with reporters, Erlich said his plan to increase the county’s income tax helps “fully fund” the school system’s budget request and avoid cuts to other county priorities.
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