Residents urge more school funding, oppose local ICE detention licensing and call for pipeline transparency

Multiple Montgomery County residents used the public‑address period to press the Board of Supervisors on school funding, immigration enforcement and pipeline transparency.

School funding: Anna Vijayan (District A) presented multi‑year budget tables showing contributions to the school operating fund from federal, county and state sources between FY2020 and FY2026. Using budget figures, she said county contributions increased by about $13.4 million and state contributions by about $22.9 million over six years; she and Carol Lahas argued that, by proportion, the state provided a larger share of the increase in the school operating fund and that the county’s portion had fallen by about two percentage points. They urged supervisors to consider any school funding request on its merits and to advertise proposals for increased taxes if necessary.

Immigration enforcement and ICE: Several speakers urged the board to take policy steps to limit ICE activity in the county. Crystal Pretty and Laura Brown urged the board to oppose licensing that would enable an ICE detention facility in the community and to pursue local policies forbidding county collaboration with ICE, preventing county agencies from collecting immigration status, and barring use of county properties by ICE without a court order. Madison Justice detailed concerns about warrantless searches, use of force, and potential legal liability for local entities that assist federal immigration enforcement.

Economic/community context and pipeline oversight: Alex Carney argued that immigrants contribute economically to the county and urged inclusive local policy; another commenter flagged filings related to the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP), saying the project had requested additional acreage in a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission filing and urging the board to monitor a response due that week.

Other: A resident raised a site‑plan/septic question about the Shaw SUP parcel (separate agenda item). Kelly Gimple, the newly introduced school superintendent, briefly invited board members to upcoming school listening sessions.

What happens next: The board did not take policy action on immigration during the meeting; several speakers asked for legislation or resolutions and said they would follow up. The planning and development department will continue to process the Shaw SUP site plan and address the septic/permit concern raised by a resident.