Gaithersburg introduces FY 2026 budget; proposes holding property tax rate steady at 0.262

Janice Hartman, director of Finance and Administration, introduced the City of Gaithersburg’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget at the March 17 meeting, and the council moved to introduce the budget ordinance.

Key numbers and schedule Hartman said the proposed real property tax rate is 0.262, unchanged from the current year. Staff will publish the legal advertisement in the Washington Post on March 20 and post the online FY 2026 budget book on the city website on March 28. A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for April 7, 2025; the record for public comment will remain open until 5:00 p.m. on April 23, 2025. The mayor and council plan a budget work session on April 14 (and April 15, if needed) and anticipate consideration of final adoption on May 5, 2025.

Council requests and next steps Council Member Neil asked that upcoming budget sessions clearly show projected fund balances and the planned transfers to capital improvement funds. Hartman said staff will present a more detailed breakdown during the scheduled work sessions.

Procedural outcome The council voted to introduce the budget ordinance at the March 17 meeting; staff will proceed with advertising, publishing the online budget book, and preparing materials for the scheduled public hearing and work sessions.

Provenance Topic introduction excerpt: “Tonight, I'm here for the city budget for the fiscal year 07/01/2025 through 06/30/2026 and levying an ad valorem tax on all assessable property within the city of Gaithersburg, Maryland.” — Janice Hartman

Topic finish excerpt: Motion to introduce the budget ordinance was moved and seconded; vote recorded in the meeting minutes.