Montgomery County Council has signaled strong consensus on its proposed $7.6 billion operating budget for fiscal year 2026, with a unanimous “straw vote” held on Thursday, May 15. The formal vote is set for May 22, paving the way for the budget to take effect on July 1. Council President Kate Stewart emphasized that the budget reflects an “unyielding commitment” to education, public safety, social services, and support for county employees.
Rejecting County Executive Marc Elrich’s proposals to raise property or income taxes, the council instead opted to fund priorities by drawing from the retiree health benefit trust fund—a move Stewart acknowledged was initially controversial but ultimately deemed necessary to maintain both fiscal stability and service delivery. The council was also able to preserve a 3.2% reserve, reinforcing its commitment to sound financial management amid rising demands.
Education and Safety Receive Major Budget Boosts
Education emerged as the biggest beneficiary in the proposed budget, receiving $3.6 billion—an increase of $322 million over the previous fiscal year. The plan includes a 3.25% salary boost for education staff and funds for 688 new special education roles, including 500 paraeducators. The council also allocated money for 52 additional school security staff, underscoring its focus on student safety.
Public safety allocations also saw significant increases. The Montgomery County Council Police Department’s budget will rise to $352 million, including $274,000 for expanding the Drone as First Responder program into Germantown. The police budget also supports enhanced security measures at Progress Place, a key service hub for the county’s growing homeless population, which increased from 1,144 in 2024 to 1,510 in 2025 according to a recent regional survey.
Additionally, the Fire and Rescue Service will receive a 6% funding bump to $310 million, while the State’s Attorney’s Office will operate with a $27 million allocation. Other departments receiving funding include the Sheriff’s Department ($33 million), the Office of Animal Services ($11 million), and the Office of Consumer Protection ($3.2 million), which will gain two new staffers to enforce landlord-tenant laws. The county’s 911 telephone fee will also increase from 75 cents to $1.47.
Health, Housing, and Transit Also Prioritized
Montgomery County Council’s Department of Health and Human Services is set to receive $554 million, reflecting a $43 million increase from the previous year. Children, Youth and Family Services will be granted $140 million for programs supporting vulnerable families, while public health services will receive nearly $117 million to fund disease prevention and healthcare access initiatives.
Housing and transportation also feature prominently. The council has earmarked $58 million for affordable housing and rental assistance programs. In a move to improve accessibility, funding has also been set aside to eliminate fares on the county’s Ride-On buses—making public transit free for all users.
With the final approval vote scheduled for May 22, county officials are confident that the new budget strikes the right balance between fiscal prudence and fulfilling community needs.
