Dear Friends,
A memorable moment this week was delivering the commencement speech to the graduating Class of 2026 at Albert Einstein High School.
As a former teacher and Class of 1967 alumnus, it was both enjoyable and somewhat surreal to share insights about the contrast between the world these students know today and the challenges we faced 59 years ago when I was in their shoes. Graduation is a celebration of hard work and achievement, but it is also a reminder that learning doesn’t stop when you leave the classroom. In my remarks, I encouraged graduates to stay curious, be willing to listen, and learn from people with different experiences. I hope they understand there is rarely a straight path to success.
I also spoke about the importance of community, public service, and standing up for others, especially at times when doing so may not be easy. The challenges facing our country and our world will require thoughtful, engaged citizens who are willing to get involved and make a difference.
I invite you to take a few minutes to watch the speech by clicking here, and join me in congratulating Einstein High School graduates and every graduate of the Class of 2026.
MCPS Budget Decisions Finalized
There is a lot to unpack as the Montgomery County School Board finalized its fiscal year 2027 (FY27) budget this week. Remember, the County Council did not meet MCPS’s full budget request, leaving it almost $36 million short. As a result, the school board approved a plan on Thursday that reduced funding for contractual services, dual enrollment expenses, and central administration, eliminating 415 positions. While some of these positions are currently unfilled or newly created, most are currently filled and will result in layoffs. Board members said they looked to these reductions to minimize the impact of cuts on classrooms, wherever possible.
According to a report provided to the school board on Thursday, the biggest reductions were in the following categories:
- Special education: $13.7 million
- Student personnel services: $9 million
- Textbook and instructional supplies: $6.3 million
- Transportation: $3.1million
- Savings in the reduction of fixed charges: $23.9 million
Some positions originally funded that were ultimately eliminated include 12 secondary literary specialists, 28 security assistants, and 118 special education resource teachers.
Through this budget review, the Board reevaluated its priorities, which helped identify the need to reject key positions initially targeted for elimination that directly support teaching, learning, and student well-being. This includes:
- 15 high school staff development teachers
- 18 school psychologists
- 26.7 college and career navigators
In the end, the decisions made over the last two weeks protected school-based services, helped us exceed state funding requirements, and supported the academic and social-emotional needs of our students.
I wish these reductions had not been needed, but the Council did not want to follow my fiscal plan for a modest property tax increase to fully fund the MCPS budget request. I did that after years of trying, unsuccessfully, to get the Council to adopt a tax structure like those used in the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. The change would allow us to raise more money from commercial properties and take the pressure off residential properties.
In this budget, I also tried to introduce GROWTH districts to increase revenue from commercial properties along our busiest corridors, and, for several years, I’ve repeatedly lobbied our state lawmakers to allow counties to establish special taxing districts so we could raise new revenue without impacting residential property taxes. Unfortunately, we can’t get support from our delegation in Annapolis if the Council refuses to endorse it. The irony of this is that in the Maryland Association of Counties, many member jurisdictions are majority-Republican, and they support the effort to give local taxing authority to counties.
The Council has repeatedly reduced taxes on developers in its race to the bottom – it’s won the race, but what they have failed to see is that development still goes to the places with higher property taxes on commercial development.
Effectively, we’re boxed into raising residential taxes any time we try to address our needs, which is not the case in the District of Columbia or Virginia. And parenthetically, I’ll point out that Frederick, Howard, and Prince George’s counties all have tax rates higher than ours. For all the rhetoric about protecting our taxpayers, this is really about protecting commercial property owners from a fairer tax system where they would pay more, with the result that we wind up not supporting what we need to do.
Let’s be honest: the Council’s support on this budget was not enough. Dr. Thomas Taylor and his team still toiled with that $36 million gap. And here’s the thing about school budgets that people sometimes forget — 90% of the money is spent on salaries for teachers, counselors, and support staff.
The other thing I want people to understand is that this isn’t a one-time problem. Because MCPS had to use one-time money to balance this year’s budget, they’re already starting next year in a hole. Before a single decision gets made for FY28, they’re already behind. That should concern all of us.
More than 70% of MCPS employees live right here in Montgomery County. They pay taxes here. They shop here. They are our neighbors. The idea that what happens to their pay and their jobs is somehow separate from the health of this community — that’s just wrong. Their economic stability is our community’s stability.
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None of this is easy, including standing behind a property tax increase. When I proposed my budget, I said that the money generated by raising property taxes was needed not for new programs or initiatives but to pay for school needs. That’s increased compensation to retain the talent we have.
For years, MCPS had the highest-paid teachers in the State. Since the Blueprint for Education went into effect, other counties have become more competitive on pay, yet we remain a more expensive place to live than most others.
This entire situation is a shame because the people running our schools and teaching our kids deserve better than having to justify their value every single budget season. They shouldn’t have to fight this hard every year just to do their jobs. I will keep fighting for a fairer tax structure because our students, our educators, and our community deserve nothing less.
Strengthening Immigrant Protections by Signing Four Bills into Law
On Monday, the first day of Immigrant Heritage Month, we celebrated four new County laws that strengthen protections for our immigrant population. You can watch that ceremony on the County’s Facebook page under the ‘live’ category.
I want to thank the County Council for their work on these bills, several of which I’ve already written about as they were passed by Council.
- Bill 3-26 — County Values Act
The County Values Act establishes a formal framework for how County departments respond when federal immigration enforcement comes to County facilities and parking lots. This law ensures that residents can access County services without fear and that County property remains in service of County residents — not federal enforcement priorities. - Bill 5-26 — Unmask ICE Act
The Unmask ICE Act prohibits any law enforcement agency operating in Montgomery County from wearing masks or facial coverings while on duty, with narrow exceptions for legitimate health and safety purposes. It also requires officers to display and, upon request, verbally disclose their agency, name, and badge number. - Bill 13-26 — ICE Out Act
The ICE Out Act prohibits the issuance of building permits or use-and-occupancy permits for any privately-owned detention facility in Montgomery County. - Bill 14-26 — Vehicle Recovery Act
When a vehicle is impounded in Montgomery County, the Vehicle Recovery Act ensures that the process of getting it back doesn’t become an additional hardship for immigrant families. It requires towing companies to accept consular identification cards and a broader range of documentation (including from family members and household members) to establish ownership and secure the release of a vehicle.
Collectively, these measures solidify the values we share as a community. We are not complicit in ICE activity, and these measures make it more difficult for ICE to continue its illegal mission and better protect the innocent people they are targeting in immigration raids.
We have many friends and neighbors terrified by what illegal activities the federal government might do, targeting people who are awaiting asylum decisions and separating families inhumanely. These new laws will help rebuild trust in local officials, so people are not afraid to go to work or send their kids to school. All residents deserve that peace of mind, and I’m glad that we are standing in solidarity and opposed to the fascist policies that seek to vilify legal immigration.
Drought Warning Issued for DC Region
On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments announced that our region is now under a Drought Watch. Our water supply is okay for now, but WSSC Water and our regional partners are asking everyone to be a little more careful about how much water we’re using.
Nothing dramatic is being asked of residents.
- Take shorter showers.
- Fix any leaky faucets or hose connections and broken sprinklers.
- Turn the tap off while you’re brushing your teeth.
- Limit outdoor water activities and reuse water when possible.
- Ease up on outdoor watering.
- Water in the early morning or evening helps prevent evaporation from drying out your plants.
For details on how using these tips will help you save water, watch and share this video produced by WSSC Water.
These are small things, but they add up — and they help protect the Potomac River, which is where most of our water actually comes from. If dry conditions persist, we want to ensure our system stays strong.
In Montgomery County, we can make a difference. My message to everyone is to start conserving water at home and outdoors or continue your good habits and encourage friends and neighbors to do the same. Help keep our community resilient.
Early Child Care Education Loan Fund Opens 200 New Child Care Seats
Child care in Montgomery County just got a real boost. This week we announced the first group of awardees from our new Early Care and Education Facility Loan Program. Nearly 200 new child care openings are coming to our County, and facilities are being upgraded for greater accessibility.
Child care providers have been operating on a broken business model for years. They don’t have the capital to expand, fix up their facilities, or modernize and we decided to do something about that. Through this program, we’re offering forgivable loans and zero-percent interest loans so providers can grow and improve.
In just the first round, we received more than 100 applications, which tells you how badly this was needed. We’re funding 19 projects totaling a little more than $2.6 million, with most of that investment going toward expansion in areas of the County where child care options are hardest to find.
We launched the ECE Facility Loan Program last year to support both family child care providers and child care centers in increasing their licensed capacity. These upgrades will enhance the quality of children’s programs and create additional safe, nurturing learning environments.
Investing in our youngest residents yields the greatest returns — for families, for our workforce, and for our community’s future. When parents have access to stable, high-quality child care, they can work. When they can work, our whole community is stronger.
2026 Community Memorial Service for Those Who Died After Experiencing Homelessness
One of the hardest things we do each year is also one of the most important. On Friday morning, we honored 35 people who were part of our community, who were being served through our system, and who died over the past twelve months, unable to experience what every person deserves — a safe, stable place to call home.
We read their names aloud because they were not invisible. They were sons and daughters. Parents and friends. Real people with real lives, and they deserved better.
I want to thank the director of the Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. James Bridgers, the chief of Services to End and Prevent Homelessness, Christine Hong, our DHHS staff, and community partners like Pathways to Housing and the Interagency Commission on Homelessness, to name just two. Everyone who commits to hard, unglamorous work each day because serving everyone in our community matters enormously. I want to acknowledge the People’s Committee because your voices keep the rest of us honest. You remind us of what this work actually looks like on the ground.
This is a message I’ve repeated: homelessness is not a personal failing. It is what happens when housing costs outrun wages, when mental health resources are stretched past their limits, when people fall through gaps that we as a society created and that we as a society have a responsibility to close. When we lose someone to homelessness, that is a systemic failure. Stopping to honor those no longer here reminds me that no matter how much progress we make — and we are making progress — it is never fast enough for the person in crisis right now.
Our goal is simple: make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring in Montgomery County. This year, fewer people died without a home, but that is hardly anything to celebrate. The only number we should accept is zero fatalities. We best honor those 35 lives by recommitting ourselves to our work to make good on our goal.
Primary Election Update
A little more than two weeks ago, the State of Maryland began alerting everyone about an error by its contractor that triggered a reprint of every mail-in ballot in the state. To put it simply, the state’s mail-in ballot vendor made a printing error that caused some voters to receive ballots with the wrong party affiliation. Because the vendor couldn’t pinpoint exactly who received the incorrect ballots, the Maryland Board of Elections took the only step that ensures the integrity of our vote: they sent replacement ballots to every voter who requested one by mail prior to the error.
Postcards were sent out alerting voters to the situation, and many of those voters have already received their replacement ballot. Look for envelopes marked with “Replacement Ballot Inside” on the front of the envelope.
Here is what you need to know to make sure your vote is part of the initial ballot count:
- Discard the first ballot that came in the mail.
- Use the new ballot.
- Return it as soon as you have completed it.
You can use any of the 58 ballot drop boxes located throughout Montgomery County—places like the Silver Spring Civic Building, the Activity Center at Bohrer Park, or your nearest high school. These boxes are available until 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, June 23.
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You can also mail it back: If you choose to use the USPS during the final week before Election Day, please take your ballot to a post office to have it hand-postmarked by the 23rd to ensure it is considered timely.
The sorting and verification of mail-in ballots began this week through the County’s Board of Elections, and early voting begins soon. For more on preparations ahead of the primary, please check out my weekly media briefing, which featured Board of Elections members Larry Halloran and David Naimon. You can also visit the Board of Elections directly by going to 777vote.org. You can also find information about becoming an election judge because they are still needed.
County Secures $8.3 Million in Maryland Energy Administration Grants
I am proud to share some great news for our community regarding our ongoing commitment to sustainability and affordability. Montgomery County Government has secured $8.3 million in grant funding as part of a larger $56.8 million statewide investment recently announced by Gov. Wes Moore. These funds, administered through the Maryland Energy Administration, are dedicated to local government energy modernization (L-GEM) projects that will help us upgrade our government infrastructure while lowering costs for our residents. The money will support 20 clean energy and energy efficiency projects.
The L-GEM award, combined with local cost-share investments, will save taxpayers an estimated $439,000 in annual energy costs and generate more than $11 million in long-term savings. Projects earmarked for the money will:
- Provide solar-powered backup systems at recreation centers and community facilities.
- Add to the County’s resilience hub and microgrid initiative.
- Expand solar energy projects on Montgomery Parks properties.
- Improve safety, lighting, and energy efficiency in public parking facilities.
The governor also announced grant awards to Montgomery County Public Schools, with $2.1 million for clean energy and energy efficiency. Clean energy investments will include solar and geothermal systems.
The municipalities of Rockville and Takoma Park received awards for energy audits and energy retrofits, and several community nonprofits received awards for energy modernization projects.
The investment is a significant step in our mission to meet the rising demand for energy. Using this MEA grant money to focus on energy efficiency in our public buildings reduces our carbon footprint and directly cuts government utility bills, resulting in overall savings to taxpayers.
These MEA grant-funded projects are expected to deliver substantial results, contributing to a massive reduction in lifetime greenhouse gas emissions across Maryland. Beyond the environmental benefits, these grants stimulate our local economy by driving demand for green jobs and ensuring our energy grid remains reliable for generations to come. We are excited to put these dollars to work to create a cleaner, more affordable future for everyone in the County.
Regional Analysis Shows a 32% Decrease in Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Montgomery County continues to lead on climate action, and now we have updated data to show our progress and where we need to go. This week, we shared results from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ (MWCOG) analysis of community-wide greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).
In March of 2026, MWCOG published its Community-Wide Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Summaries, which provides inventories for 24 local governments in the metropolitan Washington region, including Montgomery County.
This analysis shows Montgomery County’s GHG emissions:
- Decreased by 32% between 2005 and 2023.
- Occurred despite a 16% population increase.
- This equates to a 40% reduction in per capita emissions.
That means we’re growing as a community while polluting less. By setting ambitious climate change goals, developing a nation-leading Climate Action Plan, and then quickly implementing the plan, Montgomery County is making real progress. There is still, however, much to be done to meet our goal of 100% reduction in GHG emissions by 2035. Also, we are not on track to meet our goal of 80% reduction by 2027.
The government can’t bend the curve on climate change alone; we need every resident to take action in their day-to-day lives to reduce pollution, like installing solar panels, riding the bus instead of driving, and composting food scraps. The County is here to help with our Climate Smart Program, providing information and resources for easy, everyday climate actions. Visit the Climate Action Portal for more information and resources.
On Monday, June 8, at 4 p.m., I’m hosting a virtual event focused on greenhouse gas emissions and data collected by MWCOG. I will be joined by Sarah Kogel-Smucker, our climate change officer, and the Department of Environmental Protection.
I’m proud of the way our community acts and leads the way in conservation, from our pace-setting adoption of electric vehicles to food scrap recycling in more and more locations around the County.
Caribbean American Heritage Month
This week, we celebrated Caribbean American Heritage Month here at the Leggett Executive Office Building in Rockville.
Montgomery County is home to nearly 20,000 Caribbean Americans. For generations, Haitians, Jamaicans, Trinidadians, Dominicans, and other Caribbean-born residents have helped each other find a home here by passing along information about immigration and vital public resources that elevate the whole community. The Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center is a vital tool helping with that mission.
Churches are one of the strongest networks within the Caribbean American community. They help preserve Caribbean values while supporting nationwide and international efforts to help those in crisis.
Caribbean Americans also account for hundreds of businesses in Montgomery County. Through our Business Center, the County is focused on helping small businesses obtain grants and support their development so they can be dependable job providers for years to come. Caribbean Americans have helped build a strong international marketplace here in the DMV that caters to our diverse population. That is something to be proud of. On Sunday, June 7, Downtown Silver Spring will host the annual Caribbean American Heritage Festival. It runs from noon to 9 p.m., and features live music, a market, and a great spread of food. Festival attendance is free, but you can reserve a spot online at silverspringdowntown.com.
Taste of Wheaton Returns on Sunday
Another fun activity on Sunday, June 7, will happen in Wheaton, where there is plenty to fill your plate.
Taste of Wheaton is happening from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Marian Fryer Town Plaza, which is located directly across from Park and Planning and our offices at 2424 Reedie Drive. We are celebrating 30 years since the launch of this festival with good food and new activities for families to enjoy. Wheaton is one of the most diverse communities in this entire County. This festival is a way to experience that with more than 40 restaurants and food vendors, live music, local performers, and arts and crafts presented by local artisans.
If you’re bringing kids, there’s plenty for them, too. This year’s festival features soccer clinics, futsal lessons, face painting, and balloon artists. Montgomery Planning is also setting up a pop-up roller skating rink in partnership with the Wheaton Urban District.
Wheaton is a hidden gem for food lovers, with flavors from across the globe all within a few blocks. This is a great chance to explore restaurants you’ve never tried, support local businesses, and just enjoy the community.
The event will happen rain or shine, so no excuses. Check out the performers lined up to help entertain everyone. Don’t miss an opportunity to enjoy what makes Wheaton worth celebrating.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
Read the original article at mcgov