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Montgomery County delays vote on capping 1¢ school sales tax after school leaders and residents push back
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Byrd, Board President Pamela Portis and multiple residents urged commissioners not to reduce or cap the county—s 1¢ sales tax for Montgomery Public Schools, citing potential multimillion-dollar losses to classroom services; the commission voted to table the proposal for later review.
Montgomery County commissioners voted on Jan. 6 to table consideration of a proposal that would cap or reduce the 1¢ sales tax dedicated to Montgomery Public Schools after a string of public comments by school leaders and residents.
Dr. Byrd, superintendent of Montgomery Public Schools, told the commission the tax "generates nearly $40,000,000 each year for our schools" and warned that a 10% reduction would remove "more than $4,000,000 annually" from classrooms, leading to "fewer teachers, fewer counselors, fewer career programs, and reduced student services." He framed stable school funding as essential to the county's workforce and local economy.
Pamela Portis, president of the…
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