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As Montgomery County residents have begun receiving their ballots, many have reached out and asked about the numerous Ballot Questions, especially the two that address our property tax system – Questions A and B. Make no mistake about it: These questions will determine the fate and future of our community. It's critical we get this right, particularly by voting FOR Question A and AGAINST Question B so we can grow a modern economy and invest in education, transportation, and parks.
FOR A: This is the ANSWER to our broken property tax system that arbitrarily sets property taxes based on a complicated formula. Question A sets a consistent tax rate each year that allows us to fund schools, libraries, and parks. Your property tax rate will remain the same unless the County Council votes unanimously to change it. A cap on the rate we pay, not on the total revenue the County can receive. I authored this question to create a property tax system that finally allows the County to grow the tax base with robust economic growth, so we won't have to raise tax rates. It’s clear. It’s fair. It directly aligns the County’s financial footing with the strength and success of local businesses and residents.
Question A is Fiscal Responsibility.
AGAINST B: Robin Ficker's latest proposal is a BAD IDEA at the worst possible time that doubles down on a BROKEN property tax system. It would make the current revenue cap completely inflexible and permanent (similar to Proposition 13 in California or TRIM in Prince George's County, measures that devastated local school systems and services). It would hamstring the flexibility needed to respond to a crisis like Covid-19 and would directly threaten our County's AAA bond rating. Losing the coveted AAA bond rating, which Montgomery County has held since the 1970s, would increase borrowing costs for schools, parks and libraries in the Capital Budget by an estimated $27 million. That means fewer resources to build schools, recreation centers, and fire stations to serve our community.
Question B is Fiscal Insanity.
Thanks for your interest and careful consideration of these ballot questions. Most importantly, I hope you will make a plan today for how and when you intend to vote if you haven't already. Our county and country are depending on it.
Go to the Montgomery County Board of Elections website for more information on mail-in voting, drop box locations, and in-person voting.
Join us on Friday October 16th at 11:30AM for our next Friday with Friedson. Click the image for the link.
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