Elrich property tax increase

[ModeratelyMoco]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do property tax increases still require the council's unanimous support, and is that likely?

Technically, no.

The state overrode that, when they put in Maintenance of effort for schools.

Technically it’s in question. If the raise was only for schools, it would not need it. But you can’t increase a ton of budgets across the board and then pretend it is just for schools. See what else is increasing here: https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/03/16/the-central-fiction-of-elrichs-budget/

As far as other questions about accountability and this money going towards smaller class sizes and teacher pay… don’t count on it. Our county has no accountability and frankly no reason to change that:
https://moderatelymoco.com/taxes-up-services-down-why-accountability-matters-more-than-ever/

[Anonymous]

The wildest part is Elrich (who has always been shall we say "unique" as a politician and in his communications), isnt shying away from it, at all.

99% of politicians in any state or county would at least know that a 10% property tax hike is going to be politically unpopular, if not personal political suicide. He's practically proud of it.

[Anonymous]

Have the council members staked out positions on this yet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have the council members staked out positions on this yet?

They first need to address the lack of accountability and runaway spending in MCPS before I'd consider supporting this.

I'd like to see cuts to the central office bloat before I take any increase seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have the council members staked out positions on this yet?

If they are smart they avoid it entirely, since it doesnt need their vote.

In theory it would need full council approval unanimously but since it doesnt- why would they go on record for supporting a huge tax increase?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have the council members staked out positions on this yet?

If they are smart they avoid it entirely, since it doesnt need their vote.

In theory it would need full council approval unanimously but since it doesnt- why would they go on record for supporting a huge tax increase?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have the council members staked out positions on this yet?

If they are smart they avoid it entirely, since it doesnt need their vote.

In theory it would need full council approval unanimously but since it doesnt- why would they go on record for supporting a huge tax increase?

Sorry for asking but can you explain? Do they need to vote for it or not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/03/15/montgomery-county-budget-tax-increase-schools/

10% increase in the property tax "to keep up with inflation"

What world does that guy live in?

"Revenues have been unable to keep up with inflation"

OK but assessment increases alone have dramatically increased the property tax amount for most people.

And since inflation is so high, why do we have to reach into our pocket that is already stretched?

Maybe dont hire Craig Rice to a no show job- there is 200k right there.

Wouldn't the increase in taxes due to increased valuations from inflation be sufficient?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have the council members staked out positions on this yet?

If they are smart they avoid it entirely, since it doesnt need their vote.

In theory it would need full council approval unanimously but since it doesnt- why would they go on record for supporting a huge tax increase?

Sorry for asking but can you explain? Do they need to vote for it or not?

By law any increase in the property tax requires a unanimous vote by the council, to raise the charter limit.

The one exception is the state allows them to go around this to comply with maintenance of effort for schools funding. So, a bit of a gray area- but I dont think it needs their vote- and they are probably quite relieved about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/03/15/montgomery-county-budget-tax-increase-schools/

10% increase in the property tax "to keep up with inflation"

What world does that guy live in?

"Revenues have been unable to keep up with inflation"

OK but assessment increases alone have dramatically increased the property tax amount for most people.

And since inflation is so high, why do we have to reach into our pocket that is already stretched?

Maybe dont hire Craig Rice to a no show job- there is 200k right there.

Wouldn't the increase in taxes due to increased valuations from inflation be sufficient?

Thats the thing- my property tax goes up every single year- without actually raising the property tax rate. But apparently for Elrich- no, this is not sufficient.

[ModeratelyMoco]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have the council members staked out positions on this yet?

If they are smart they avoid it entirely, since it doesnt need their vote.

In theory it would need full council approval unanimously but since it doesnt- why would they go on record for supporting a huge tax increase?

Sorry for asking but can you explain? Do they need to vote for it or not?

By law any increase in the property tax requires a unanimous vote by the council, to raise the charter limit.

The one exception is the state allows them to go around this to comply with maintenance of effort for schools funding. So, a bit of a gray area- but I dont think it needs their vote- and they are probably quite relieved about that.

Yea it’s pretty shady because tons of other things are increasing in the budget too but since the increase is just under the increase for MCPS alone, he is making the argument they only need a majority. So much for that charter amendment pushed through with promises of needing an anonymous vote

[Anonymous]

ModeratelyMoco wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have the council members staked out positions on this yet?

If they are smart they avoid it entirely, since it doesnt need their vote.

In theory it would need full council approval unanimously but since it doesnt- why would they go on record for supporting a huge tax increase?

Sorry for asking but can you explain? Do they need to vote for it or not?

By law any increase in the property tax requires a unanimous vote by the council, to raise the charter limit.

The one exception is the state allows them to go around this to comply with maintenance of effort for schools funding. So, a bit of a gray area- but I dont think it needs their vote- and they are probably quite relieved about that.

Yea it’s pretty shady because tons of other things are increasing in the budget too but since the increase is just under the increase for MCPS alone, he is making the argument they only need a majority. So much for that charter amendment pushed through with promises of needing an anonymous vote

But the council still needs to vote on it, right? It's just that it's a majority vote. Elrich cannot do it on his say-so alone, so the council members cannot avoid the issue.

[ModeratelyMoco]

Anonymous wrote:

ModeratelyMoco wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have the council members staked out positions on this yet?

If they are smart they avoid it entirely, since it doesnt need their vote.

In theory it would need full council approval unanimously but since it doesnt- why would they go on record for supporting a huge tax increase?

Sorry for asking but can you explain? Do they need to vote for it or not?

By law any increase in the property tax requires a unanimous vote by the council, to raise the charter limit.

The one exception is the state allows them to go around this to comply with maintenance of effort for schools funding. So, a bit of a gray area- but I dont think it needs their vote- and they are probably quite relieved about that.

Yea it’s pretty shady because tons of other things are increasing in the budget too but since the increase is just under the increase for MCPS alone, he is making the argument they only need a majority. So much for that charter amendment pushed through with promises of needing an anonymous vote

But the council still needs to vote on it, right? It's just that it's a majority vote. Elrich cannot do it on his say-so alone, so the council members cannot avoid the issue.

Yes this is true. I think personally they’ll have little trouble getting a majority. With needing unanimous there would be some hard decisions needing to be made to get everyone’s vote

[Anonymous]

ModeratelyMoco wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

ModeratelyMoco wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have the council members staked out positions on this yet?

If they are smart they avoid it entirely, since it doesnt need their vote.

In theory it would need full council approval unanimously but since it doesnt- why would they go on record for supporting a huge tax increase?

Sorry for asking but can you explain? Do they need to vote for it or not?

By law any increase in the property tax requires a unanimous vote by the council, to raise the charter limit.

The one exception is the state allows them to go around this to comply with maintenance of effort for schools funding. So, a bit of a gray area- but I dont think it needs their vote- and they are probably quite relieved about that.

Yea it’s pretty shady because tons of other things are increasing in the budget too but since the increase is just under the increase for MCPS alone, he is making the argument they only need a majority. So much for that charter amendment pushed through with promises of needing an anonymous vote

But the council still needs to vote on it, right? It's just that it's a majority vote. Elrich cannot do it on his say-so alone, so the council members cannot avoid the issue.

Yes this is true. I think personally they’ll have little trouble getting a majority. With needing unanimous there would be some hard decisions needing to be made to get everyone’s vote

There is also more political cover to just "approving Elrich's budget"
than all of them unanimously passing another big property tax increase like they did a decade ago, or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

ModeratelyMoco wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

ModeratelyMoco wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have the council members staked out positions on this yet?

If they are smart they avoid it entirely, since it doesnt need their vote.

In theory it would need full council approval unanimously but since it doesnt- why would they go on record for supporting a huge tax increase?

Sorry for asking but can you explain? Do they need to vote for it or not?

By law any increase in the property tax requires a unanimous vote by the council, to raise the charter limit.

The one exception is the state allows them to go around this to comply with maintenance of effort for schools funding. So, a bit of a gray area- but I dont think it needs their vote- and they are probably quite relieved about that.

Yea it’s pretty shady because tons of other things are increasing in the budget too but since the increase is just under the increase for MCPS alone, he is making the argument they only need a majority. So much for that charter amendment pushed through with promises of needing an anonymous vote

But the council still needs to vote on it, right? It's just that it's a majority vote. Elrich cannot do it on his say-so alone, so the council members cannot avoid the issue.

Yes this is true. I think personally they’ll have little trouble getting a majority. With needing unanimous there would be some hard decisions needing to be made to get everyone’s vote

There is also more political cover to just "approving Elrich's budget"
than all of them unanimously passing another big property tax increase like they did a decade ago, or so.

The fact that they won't trim the wasteful spending in MCPS and jump to this means they're way out of touch with their constituents.