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Delegation advances bill tying school‑board pay to General Assembly salaries after debate
Summary
The Montgomery County Delegation voted to move MC2‑26, replacing a fixed $25,000 board salary with compensation equal to General Assembly members and repealing the local compensation commission; delegates debated constitutionality, equity and implementation timing before a favorable vote.
The Montgomery County Delegation moved MC2‑26, a bill to set the compensation of elected county board of education members equal to the compensation of a member of the Maryland General Assembly. Chair Ziegler moved the bill and Delegate Charcutian sponsored it; the motion was seconded and, after extended discussion, the delegation voted to advance the measure.
"I would like to move favorable on the bill," Chair Ziegler said when presenting the Education, Elections and Housing Committee report. Delegate Charcutian, the sponsor, described the bill as setting school‑board pay to the same compensation as members of the General Assembly so the amount will adjust over time.
Delegates debated multiple concerns. Delegate Wu raised a question about whether tying one elected office's pay to another could conflict with constitutional provisions governing elected positions, citing similar questions from other counties. Jen Young, counsel to the delegation, said she had found no apparent constitutional bar in limited research and pointed to other Maryland examples where salaries are tied by formula or to other offices.
Supporters framed the change as an equity measure. "I�m an enthusiastic supporter of this legislation because I believe passionately that this is an issue of equity," Delegate Coffin said, arguing that higher compensation can broaden who is able to run for local office. Other delegates echoed the goal of enabling more diverse candidates while acknowledging disagreement over the precise dollar figure.
The bill also contains bracketed language and, as drafted, repeals the Board of Education compensation commission; delegates discussed that repeal and how the new mechanism would operate. The chair clarified implementation timing in response to questions: changes would take effect at the beginning of the next term of office so current incumbents would not see mid‑term salary changes. The chair and sponsor said the effective date in the bill is before the December 2026 term start for members elected in 2026.
After additional discussion and with no member holding the bill, the delegation took the vote; the chair announced the bill passed favorably among those voting.
Next steps: the bill will continue through the delegation process as a favorable local report and, if enacted by the legislature, would change how county board compensation is set and how it adjusts over time.
