Montgomery County proposes $268.6 million FY26 budget, holds real‑estate tax rate at $0.75

County Administrator Angie Hill presented the fiscal year 2026 proposed budget on March 10, proposing a $268,600,000 all‑funds budget and recommending the real‑estate tax rate remain at 75¢ per $100 of assessed value.

Hill told the Board of Supervisors the county and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) worked together over the year to reflect county priorities in the budget and that public safety needs — including more career fire and emergency medical services staffing — have increased demand on county resources while the schools continue to receive the largest share of spending.

The proposal maintains more than two‑thirds of the total budget for schools: Hill said 67% of the total budget would be allocated to schools, 11% to public safety and 22% to other county functions. She also reported the total budget increased by about $14,000,000 from the prior year and that the county’s estimate of new, undesignated resources rose after an updated state funding calculation for schools.

Director of Management and Budget Mark McGruder walked the board through budget mechanics…