[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6266137,"mediaKeyId","3087540-624324e37a745feff5ecde07101b3ed9","parentId",3087540,"title","Residents, business and taxpayer groups oppose proposed 3.5% property tax hike at County Council hearing","audioSeconds",3486,"startMs",1720000,"endMs",5206000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3087540-624324e37a745feff5ecde07101b3ed9&start=1720&end=5206","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3087540-624324e37a745feff5ecde07101b3ed9/thumbnail_1720000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6266137/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Residents-business-and-taxpayer-groups-oppose-proposed-35-property-tax-hike-at-County-Council-hearing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6266137-5ce3556784a6a8e798e74eace8ab5f15/orig.mp4?Expires=1771208727&Signature=QrwCE3Cf9kvuoD74KFFfl925lFyIiiw8h3lwCIxDAhSZ0qe1j4z1xJliN~CZoHS~3ZbKgVk9FErVzvaUmW4RzKSvh0h7W~vpm2nZwfaN9GqRcFz705Ocmb4OZq4qCrCPglTn8-77vEE5FAZmxgbIibGoIUzseySRyDCr7pz0ERnebOz1WvThvHd7QaUr04Ty79PRqQz~TtJyXk5Uw9KPID-~zO7GOJB30xmvUHfZ7Dq2KI~kLVLlxhRuvVPS1g7t9kWQPvc1QxtdcXa7y5ZXuocwzHZjFdvz5G-1WYSPtrfKf3DoAM0rwMxjrNgI5LULWOr1LGIu2W5-MWa890qUUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montgomery County, MD","date","2025-04-23T00:57:58.547Z","article","On April 22, 2025, the Montgomery County Council held a public hearing on a proposed FY26 real property tax rate increase. Scores of residents, real estate professionals, neighborhood leaders, small-business representatives and taxpayer groups testified largely in opposition to the proposal, saying a rate increase would exacerbate housing affordability problems and impose hardship on seniors, fixed-income households, landlords and businesses.

Speakers who testified against the proposed increase included Samantha Damato of the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors, who urged the council to “avoid property tax rate increases,” saying additional increases would worsen housing unaffordability and that county spending had grown. Diana Casaraco, a Hispanic real estate professional, said a tax increase would “deepen the housing affordability crisis” and disproportionally harm Latino families, whom she said are already cost-burdened. Seema Blackman Hall, a longtime resident and licensed real estate agent, said the state’s recent tax changes and rising assessments will fall heavily on Montgomery County homeowners and urged the council not to raise property taxes.

Multiple speakers from business organizations and taxpayer groups opposed the increase. Angela Franco, president and CEO of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, told the council that businesses and residents “cannot afford more property taxes” and urged a budget without new taxes. Representatives of the Montgomery County Taxpayers League and the Taxpayers League reiterated concerns about county spending and urged that the council reject the executive’s proposed 3.5-cent rate increase.

Seniors and long-time homeowners described steep assessment increases and the strain of higher property tax bills on fixed incomes. Speakers urged alternatives including spending reductions, targeted programs for vulnerable households, and reforms to assessment practices. Several speakers also raised concerns about the share of the county budget that funds Montgomery County Public Schools: written testimony and speakers cited that MCPS accounts for a large portion of the county budget and urged the council to seek accountability and cost controls rather than raising the tax rate.

The public hearing included in-person and virtual testimony and closed after a broad set of speakers had their allotted time. The transcript records no council vote on the tax-rate question during the hearing; the item remained under consideration and was scheduled for committee work sessions as the council moved on to other agenda items.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Apr. 22, 2025 - Council Session (pm)","oneSentenceSummary","A lengthy April 22 public hearing drew dozens of speakers opposing a proposed 3.5% FY26 property tax rate increase, citing affordability, rising assessments, federal job cuts and impacts on seniors, small landlords and businesses. Business groups and the Taxpayers League also urged the Council to reject the increase.","taxTitle","Montgomery County, Maryland","taxId",3351,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6266141,"County Council unanimously approves four supplemental appropriations totaling $8,951,991",0,1760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3087540-624324e37a745feff5ecde07101b3ed9&start=1760&end=1760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3087540-624324e37a745feff5ecde07101b3ed9/thumbnail_1760000.jpg","/articles/6266141/Montgomery-County/Maryland/County-Council-unanimously-approves-four-supplemental-appropriations-totaling-8951991","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6266141-c913d34273d008a2dc697e164c7478b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771208727&Signature=FHJLJjmWD0D-l6fTyYIzARe617AGjVbbFKID3V2R7HiWqFhgAA4J0ZS7zfAD2StCLKo~MBKfovi3BO~lpWKl0DgCCQ-MNQS4bCmZLTFGSjLTj1Bthnq1unxojNva8B50QoHp-yZUSSABOoZI4mM02564VZ3P6mk8lv4YK5TyT9GTCSfBID2NT2UGids89kUmMvP8mjNsd-I-U6viMbpEH-36kVPIZ5mxQ52FJ7tLLvDyqlqXSrmgTp~Jbw2YJw3yFHfBVwElTKPdgsZQK9iT~j2ZQBiYgHZULOQtZbBIah0UqqffsCYKc3Zux34yDSxVTvUmt0dGBlYNNpMMp4~dPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Montgomery County Council approved four supplemental appropriations during its April 22, 2025 session, recording unanimous approval for each item.

The items approved were: a state Emergency Rental Assistance grant of $1,486,353 for the Department of Health and Human Services (supplemental appropriation 25-65); a state safety grant of $1,485,840 for Montgomery County Public Schools (supplemental appropriation 25-70); a state Title IV, Part A Student Support and Academic Enrichment grant of $1,279,798 for MCPS (supplemental appropriation 25-64); and a federal Clean School Bus grant of $4,700,000 for MCPS (supplemental appropriation 25-67). Together the four appropriations total $8,951,991.

Each item followed the council’s public hearing process. For the emergency rental assistance grant (25-65) two in-person speakers were listed: Patricia Toomey and an initially absent Neil (not present during the first hearing); later testimony also came from a community leader identified as Veil Skinwani. After the public hearing, the council took action on 25-65; the clerk recorded a motion and the chair noted the vote was unanimous.

Similarly, the safety grant (25-70), the Title IV grant (25-64), and the Clean School Bus grant (25-67) each closed their public hearings with no registered speakers (or no speakers present) and were approved in immediate council action. The clerk announced motions and the council recorded unanimous votes for each appropriation on the record.

Motions and recorded outcomes were entered on the record during the meeting; the transcript does not show individual roll-call tallies, only that each motion passed unanimously. No amendments to those appropriations were recorded in the session minutes.","At the April 22 meeting the Montgomery County Council approved four supplemental appropriations to the FY25 operating budget: a state emergency rental assistance grant, two state education grants for MCPS, and a federal Clean School Bus grant. Council votes were recorded as unanimous for each item.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6266146,"Montgomery County Council proclaims Affordable Housing Month, highlights $100 million housing production fund",649,500000,1149000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3087540-624324e37a745feff5ecde07101b3ed9&start=500&end=1149","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3087540-624324e37a745feff5ecde07101b3ed9/thumbnail_500000.jpg","/articles/6266146/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Montgomery-County-Council-proclaims-Affordable-Housing-Month-highlights-100-million-housing-production-fund","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6266146-59503748049514a1aa5d5c5d3b3a0b5e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771208727&Signature=nSsgyIdIPnZB4fgLb4yKeLc5zhTBpUqyBmov49shEOQWaNyKHeuL~iS-PqwRi0mAyqTiqvE2QAwB88N8qgZ4Mn8AOldGMUnC5m~b2mvvutkmcT9OmKTLKwdltWdP6ItS4R7x2JoVmpkgW1sZ2crdl0UB9KNZor0Nh254FiDvqPUvtDwiJqyAMMc~Xqp~LJu0vS2D6BkVmf5ONvTMjnjbFeAs1Zh3FejYO6QBMP338l45vulfwpH9M066eZFCk08p~cM8i0Bpl-MeUDibkxzKhgYKw3sTfDkoUpGYKVO2dyJI-z-IFdSWfLADE6hQPGV86KeejIVdEson8dbCIDgEog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its April 22, 2025 meeting, the Montgomery County Council’s Planning, Housing and Parks Committee read a proclamation recognizing Affordable Housing Month and reviewed county programs aimed at preserving and producing affordable homes.

Council Member Friedson invited nonprofit and agency partners to the dais and said Montgomery County is “the birthplace and the home of inclusionary zoning with the MPDU, moderately priced dwelling unit program.” The proclamation and remarks highlighted two sizable county programs: a $100,000,000 Housing Production Fund administered through the Housing Opportunities Commission and a $50,000,000 Nonprofit Preservation Fund intended to preserve naturally occurring affordable housing.

The proclamation was read by members of the Planning, Housing and Parks Committee on behalf of the full Council. Speakers from government and nonprofit partners described how those programs and other county efforts support a range of housing types and resident services. Scott Bruton of the Department of Housing and Community Affairs and Summer Cross, chief of housing at DHCA, attended the ceremony. Lloyd Fries, chair of the Housing Opportunities Commission, and Chelsea Andrews, president of the Housing Opportunities Commission, were present and joined nonprofit partners in thanking the Council for county support.

Leila Finucane of Victory Housing said the county helped the organization expand senior housing, and noted a county Department of Environmental Protection grant to electrify one of Victory’s older senior properties. Sarah Redinger of Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland said the county “helps support our new construction projects, our rehab projects” and funds home-preservation work. Other organizations represented at the event included Montgomery Housing Partnership, Montgomery Housing Alliance, Housing Unlimited, Enterprise Community Partners, and the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors.

The proclamation text—read aloud by committee members—commemorated Affordable Housing Month and described the county’s commitment to “equity, access and opportunity in housing,” cited the MPDU inclusionary zoning program and the two funds, and resolved that the council “recommits to building more homes and upholding the principles of fairness and dignity in housing.” The committee chair read the proclamation on behalf of the full County Council.

The event combined ceremonial recognition with policy description: speakers described existing programs, recent awards and grants, and partnerships with county agencies. No formal council action (vote or ordinance) was taken at the ceremony; the item on the agenda was a proclamation and recognition.","At its April 22 meeting the Montgomery County Council’s Planning, Housing and Parks Committee presented a proclamation marking Affordable Housing Month and underscored county programs including a $100,000,000 Housing Production Fund and a $50,000,000 Nonprofit Preservation Fund.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents, business and taxpayer groups oppose proposed 3.5% property tax hike at County Council hearing

County Council unanimously approves four supplemental appropriations totaling $8,951,991

Montgomery County Council proclaims Affordable Housing Month, highlights $100 million housing production fund