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Teachers— union urges council to fund schools, proposes 0.1% income‑tax increase during Education Appreciation event
Summary
During Education Appreciation Week proclamations, the Montgomery County Education Association pressed the council to fully fund next year—s schools budget and asked the council to consider increasing the county income tax rate by a tenth of a percent or be transparent about planned cuts.
Leaders representing Montgomery County educators used the Education Appreciation Week ceremony at the council's May work session to press the council for stronger funding for schools and to urge a specific revenue option.
David Stein, president of the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA), told the council that recognition of teachers is welcome but insufficient if the county fails to fully fund next year—s school budget. "Recognition is great coming from parents and students, but from you, from our funders, it is simply not enough," Stein said. He asked the council to "go beyond rhetoric" and either increase the county income tax rate by one‑tenth of one percent or be transparent about which cuts will be made if the council chooses not to raise revenue. Stein said teachers and staff have already taken concessions on benefits and that further cuts would disproportionately affect the county's most vulnerable students.
The council's Education and Culture Committee presented a proclamation recognizing educators and proposed two one‑time $100,000 tranches for arts and humanities grants in separate items; those are separate budget items. Speakers at the proclamation included Montgomery College's Dr. Jermaine Williams, assistant principal LaFaye Howard of Winston Churchill High School, and other honored educators and union representatives who described classroom challenges and the role county funding plays in sustaining programs.
What happened in session: The union speaker framed the funding ask as both a fiscal and equity decision—calling for specific revenue action or clear-cut prioritization. Council members acknowledged the request and said they would consider revenue and budget tradeoffs during the reconciliation process.
What remains: The FY26 budget process will continue with reconciliation of revenue and expenditure priorities. The union requested the council either increase the income tax rate by 0.1 percent or explain proposed cuts; the council made no immediate commitment during the session.
