Dear Friends,
Happy New Year! I’m optimistic about the year ahead, everything 2023 offers this county, and the transformations this 20th Council has the opportunity to lead. Despite the challenges we face, I am confident working together we can address them through a robust and transparent legislative process.
Centering Student Needs
2023 marks the start of my chairmanship of the Council’s Education and Culture Committee (E&C). I served as a member of the E&C committee in my first term alongside former Councilmembers Craig Rice and Nancy Navarro and my passion for our schools, students, educators, and families remains strong as I take on this new role.
I plan to continue advocating for our schools and ensuring our students have the support they need to thrive. Now is our moment to act to help schools rebound from the challenges and disparities exacerbated during the pandemic. Specific needs must be addressed to respond to learning loss, mental health, food security, and more. Prioritizing the needs of our students and school community is paramount in my work. I will be working hand-in-hand with students, parents, teachers, and school system employees to get us back on track.
The E&C’s first committee meeting will be later this month, on January 23rd. Please tune in. You can watch it online here.
Education Listening Tour
This year I’m excited to be launching an Education Listening Tour. I plan to visit every school cluster over the next two years to discuss the most pressing issues facing our school system. I value hearing from all our students, parents, teachers, administrators, and educational partners.
The tour will begin this January with my visit to the Northwood cluster. I look forward to hearing from our school community and learning what additional supports and reforms are necessary to improve our schools.
For more information please contact Christina Neidlinger.
Tax Relief for Working Families
I was proud to continue my collaboration with Delegate Julie Palakovich Carr (District 17) on local income tax fairness and join her in the introduction of the More Local Tax Relief for Working Families Act of 2023.
The Act will give Montgomery County the authority to provide revenue-neutral tax relief for moderate and low-income residents. The act gives counties a tool to create a fairer tax system that lowers taxes for low and moderate incomes and modestly increases rates for higher earners by increasing the maximum allowable income tax rate from 3.2% to 3.7% for those making more than half a million dollars a year.
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