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Residents press Montgomery County on taxes, immigrant services and sustainability
Summary
Public commenters at the Dec. 18 meeting urged clarity on tax increases, questioned budget line items for immigrant services and applauded the new sustainability committee; commissioners offered follow‑up and contact points.
During two public comment periods at the Dec. 18 meeting, residents raised fiscal and social concerns that punctuated the board’s votes.
Tax and transparency concerns: David Morgan (Ambler) used prepared charts to trace recent property‑tax increases and said a proposed 4% increase for 2026 contributes to what he described as a cumulative rise; he flagged what he called a $55 million deficit and asked for a consolidated, transparent accounting of new positions and their costs. A commissioner acknowledged those concerns, saying the board began the year facing an estimated $55 million starting deficit and had reduced it by approximately $30 million through cuts and other actions.
Immigrant services and budget line items: A Zoom commenter (Ambler) raised specific budget concerns, asserting zero dollars were allocated to immigration services, language access, community integration, translation services and training tied to the county’s non‑cooperation policy while citing a $768,000 allocation for a new external affairs department. The chair and commissioners responded that the budget contains funding and staff for immigrant services across departments, offered to connect the commenter with the director of immigrant affairs and encouraged follow‑up to reconcile line‑item questions.
Support for sustainability and local programs: Environmental advocates Joy Bergey and Zach Davis (both described themselves as municipal EAC members and sustainability transition team co‑chairs) endorsed a new county sustainability committee and urged the board to recruit members from existing municipal networks to increase capacity and knowledge sharing. Coroner Dr. Janine Darby thanked the board for budget support for the coroner’s office; additional commenters offered remarks on adoption supports and faith‑based outreach.
What the record shows: Public commenters raised verifiable numbers and programmatic assertions; commissioners generally responded by acknowledging concerns, offering staff follow‑up and emphasizing that detailed budget line items and program funding can be reviewed with county department leads.
Ending: Commissioners closed the meeting following public comment with brief remarks endorsing continued transparency and planned fiscal briefings in 2026.
