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May 15, 2026
Dear Neighbors,
I’m writing to update you on the Council’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget work that culminated this week. We had some big wins for District 5, as well as some decisions that I wish had gone differently.
Voting Against Elimination of the Income Tax Offset Credit (ITOC)
I strongly opposed several elements of the budget, including the proposal to eliminate the $692 Income Tax Offset Credit that most homeowners receive. Unfortunately, the motion to eliminate that tax credit passed 6-5. Some residents will have the loss of the ITOC partially offset by an accompanying income tax cut, but for many seniors and other homeowners with fixed incomes, they will be paying more than before. I did not think this was the best way to finance the County’s spending this year, which is one of the reasons why I opposed the tax package. I put forward an alternative tax package that would have preserved the ITOC, but it did not garner enough support from my colleagues.
Funding for MCPS
In the end, the Council was able to fund 80% of the requested increase for MCPS, the vast majority of which goes to teacher and support staff compensation. I would have preferred to find a way to generate more revenue to meet more of the demand - and I put forward proposals to do so - but 80% was the highest amount that could earn the 8 votes needed to pass a budget this year.
I had a firm line throughout the budget process that I would not support a budget that funded less than 80% of the MCPS requested increase. Last minute negotiations and advocacy from teachers, support staff, and families moved the needle from funding 60% of the increase to 80%, which will save hundreds of critical MCPS positions from being eliminated. Unfortunately, the school system will still have difficult decisions to make about how to reconcile its budget due to the shortfall.
District 5 Wins
I was able to secure some significant wins for District 5 in this budget, including:
- Protecting funds for a new Eastern Middle School building (construction will begin in FY28)
- Funding for crossing guards at the new Burtonsville Elementary School (opening this fall!)
- Maintaining funding for a future East County campus of Montgomery College
- Maintaining funding for infrastructure improvements related to the Viva White Oak project
- Increasing funding for the Muslim Community Center medical clinic’s oral health program, which provides dental services to low-income families, predominantly from East County
- Securing ongoing funding for the American Diversity Group medical clinic, which is based in East County but serves residents from across the county for free, and is one of very few places where vulnerable residents can access care on the weekends.
I appreciate the thousands of residents who contacted my office during the budget process. The Fiscal Year 2027 budget is far from perfect, but I did my best to advocate for the interests of District 5 residents and to move things in the right direction.
Thank you again for your engagement, and please don’t hesitate to reach out to me and my office anytime at councilmember.mink@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Sincerely,
Kristin Mink
She / Her / Ella
Councilmember, District 5
Thank you for reading! If you have any comments, questions, or constituent inquiries, you can reach my office at councilmember.mink@montgomerycountymd.gov or 240-777-7955.
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