MONTGOMERY COUNTY SPECIAL MEETING OCTOBER 13TH, 2026

The Montgomery County Legislature held a special meeting on October 13, 2026, for a preliminary review of the executive’s and treasurer’s tentative 2027 budget. The proposal included just under $174 million in appropriations, approximately $126 million in estimated revenues, use of $14.704 million in fund balance, and a $33.653 million real-property tax levy. Officials said the proposed levy was about $443,000 below the tax-cap limit, which was estimated at roughly 5%. They discussed rising contractual salaries and benefits—up about $2.5 million—as well as health insurance and retirement costs. The budget also includes $250,000 for farmland-protection grants; the treasurer noted that DSS program costs increased about $1.6 million, largely due to daycare.

No contract awards, vendor selections, bids, or purchasing decisions were presented, and no budget action was voted on at this meeting. Legislators outlined the upcoming department-by-department review and line-item change process, with a revised budget and vote scheduled for November 2. The discussion also emphasized the long-term risks of relying on fund balance to balance budgets. The only vote-related action at this meeting was adjournment.