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Montgomery County board votes to advertise FY2027 budget and proposed 5¢ real‑estate tax increase
Summary
After hearing residents’ concerns about affordability, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors voted 5–2 to advertise a proposed FY2027 budget of $285.74 million and a real‑estate tax rate of 81¢ per $100 (a 5¢ increase). Board members emphasized tradeoffs between services, employee pay and resident burdens.
The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors voted 5–2 on March 23 to advertise a proposed fiscal year 2027 budget of $285,739,377 and to advertise a proposed real‑estate tax rate of 81¢ per $100 of assessed value, a 5¢ increase from the current rate.
County CFO Terry Mitchell told the board the proposed budget would total about $285.7 million, about $14.9 million higher than FY2026, and explained the advertised rates for other property classes and a new personal‑property category for fire and rescue volunteers. The advertised rates may be lowered but cannot be raised before final adoption.
The meeting included a public comment period in which residents and local analysts urged caution. "With this current average county per capita income, exactly how many of those earning that amount or less does this board believe have had their earnings increase by over 15% in 4 years?" asked Wyman Pack, who warned that another reassessment could push many households into higher tax bills.
Anna Vijayan presented data comparing county and school spending growth since FY2020 and said county personal‑services spending per resident would rise more than school spending per student under the recommended budget. "It would take an extra $5,200,000 to bring the personal services percent increase in expenditures per student up from 47.7% to 53.1% matching the county," she said.
Supervisors split over whether to advertise the rates. Several board members said residents are struggling and urged restraint. "People can't afford no more," one supervisor said during the work session. Others said modest increases are necessary to avoid cutting services or stalling employee pay increases, and noted that the county faces only about $1 million in new revenue growth for FY2027.
On the roll call to advertise the tax rates, the motion passed 5 ayes to 2 no. The board then voted 5–2 to authorize the county administrator to advertise the FY2027 budget; staff announced a public hearing on the budget for April 9 and a special meeting to adopt rates and budget on April 20.
Votes at a glance - Advertise FY2027 tax rates (real estate 81¢/100): passed 5–2. - Advertise FY2027 budget, $285,739,377: passed 5–2.
What happens next The advertised rates and budget are scheduled for a public hearing on April 9; the board may lower advertised rates but cannot increase them before final adoption at a special meeting currently set for April 20.
