Montgomery County Council President Natali Fani-González made the following statement on misleading information regarding the Montgomery County Council’s Fiscal Year 2027 Capital and Operating Budget decisions.
Below is Council President Fani-González’s full statement:
“I am disappointed but unsurprised by politicization of the Council’s recent budget decisions ahead of the Maryland Primary Election.
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“Let me set the record straight. The Council unanimously rejected the County Executive’s more than six percent property tax increase, holding the line on property taxes. The claim that all homeowners will receive a tax hike is false.
“We also rejected the County Executive’s income tax increase, which would have raised income taxes for all wage earners, regardless of their income. Now, based on my progressive tax plan, we have an income tax structure that is more equitable. 95 percent of County wage earners will receive an income tax break, while the highest earners will be asked to pay slightly more. To pay for this tax cut for the vast majority of wage earners, we eliminated the poorly targeted and expensive ($140 million) Income Tax Offset Credit (ITOC). We strategically reallocated the remaining ITOC funds to Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and programs that support the most vulnerable in our community.
“Access to accurate, reliable and trustworthy information is essential for informed decision-making, voting and democracy.
“The majority of the Council worked collaboratively this year to deliver a budget that helps us shape a fairer, more sustainable future. We have finally delivered a progressive income tax structure. We have protected the most vulnerable with direct services. We have helped keep costs down for residents struggling in this economy. We delivered wage increases to our dedicated, hard-working public employees. We have supported our non-profits and increased assistance to working families with young kids.
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“Together, we are meeting residents where they are at today while setting the County up for a bright future.”
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Read the original article at mccouncil