Montgomery County Executive Candidate Forum Highlights Tax Discussions

During the Montgomery County Executive Candidate Forum, held Thursday night at Leisure World Community in Silver Spring, the conversation circled back to tax rates repeatedly.

This forum was the first since County Executive Mark Elrich (D) revealed an $8 billion operating budget for fiscal year 2027. Elrich proposed increasing property taxes by 6.3 cents and income taxes by 0.1 cents to fund his budget plan.

Lou Peck, a resident of Leisure World and a contributing editor for Bethesda Today, moderated the event. The forum showcased the three main contenders vying to replace Elrich: County Councilman Andrew Friedson (D-1st District), Evan Glass, and Will Jawando, both noted Democrats. Elrich has voiced his support for Jawando in this race.

As candidates addressed questions covering a variety of topics, including the rise of data centers and the growing elderly population in the county, tax policy emerged as a central theme.

Friedson made it clear in his opening remarks that, while he shares common ground with his colleagues on many issues—like opposing certain federal immigration policies—he distinguishes himself by consistently resisting tax increases. He highlighted the necessity for county executives to closely examine budgets for overspending.

“There are numerous unfilled positions in county government, yet we’re creating hundreds of new roles that residents are expected to finance. This isn’t a display of true leadership,” Friedson stated.

Conversely, Glass concentrated on the fiscal policies impacting Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), which historically consumes about half of the county’s operating budget and a significant tax in the capital improvement plan.

“We’ve allocated record funding to support educators and enhance facilities for our children. However, I’ve also demanded transparency in return,” Glass remarked.

He clarified that if he becomes county executive, he will not simply approve the budget without scrutiny. Elrich’s proposed budget includes full funding for MCPS, drawing approximately $160 million from the proposed tax hike.

The county last raised property taxes by 4.7% during the fiscal year 2024 budget period. At the time, most council members supported this increase as a compromise to Elrich’s suggested 10%. Glass, then City Council president, voted alongside the majority.

Both Jawando and Friedson voted against that tax hike. Jawando opposed the decision to dip into reserves to supplement potential revenue from Elrich’s proposed increase, while Friedson expressed a desire to cut spending instead.

Jawando and Glass Exchange Perspectives

Addressing the needs of seniors, Glass told the largely older audience that politicians, including Elrich and Jawando, are making it tougher for future generations to afford living in the county.

“Jawando and Elrich have been consistently proposing tax increases, which is becoming unsustainable and could jeopardize your ability to stay here,” Glass asserted.

Jawando responded, claiming he has never advocated for tax hikes, aside from supporting one during fiscal year 2024 while Glass was president of the council.

“I’ve pushed for progressive taxation, focusing on ensuring that the wealthiest contribute more and benefit from available programs,” Jawando said.

Glass countered Jawando’s stance by stating he was against the council’s 4.7% property tax increase, suggesting instead that Jawando felt it wasn’t high enough.

Jawando mentioned that a broader tax authority is needed for data centers, emphasizing his call for a two-year moratorium on development in the area due to “insufficient tax tools” to fairly tax tech companies.

Elrich expressed support for a six-month moratorium on new data center developments, not intending to act against the Legislature. Glass also backed a temporary halt to form a special committee for further investigation.

Friedson, on the other hand, opposed the moratorium, asserting that “we shouldn’t resist inevitable changes. Instead, we should embrace them correctly.”

In addition to discussions on data centers and the county’s aging population, candidates also addressed immigration enforcement and the Dickerson Incinerator issue.

All three council members concurred on the need to close the incinerator in favor of more sustainable options. They also recognized the importance of governing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, though they disagreed on the specifics, especially regarding law enforcement’s use of face coverings.

Interestingly, two other candidates seeking the Democratic nomination—Mithun Banerjee, a Silver Spring project manager, and Gaithersburg small business owner Peter James—were present in the audience but not invited to participate in the forum.

Two candidates from the Republican side are also in the running: Esther Wells, a certified public accountant from Montgomery Village, and Shelley Skolnick, an attorney from Friendship Heights. Neither was part of the Democratic Club Forum.

The primary election is set for June 23, with the general election to follow on November 3.