County Council to review recommended capital spending plan for MCPS
Plus: Public hearings scheduled on proposed solid waste disposal charges, property tax credit for fiscal year 2027
By
Ceoli JacobyApril 13, 2026 6:45 p.m.
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Contribute TodayThe Montgomery County Council on Tuesday will review County Executive Marc Elrich’s plan to spend $2.14 billion on capital projects for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) over six years.
Also on Tuesday, the council is scheduled to hold public hearings on solid waste disposal charges and a property tax credit proposed as part of the county operating budget for fiscal year 2027, which begins July 1.
The council will meet at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Stella Werner Council Office Building in Rockville for its regular weekly business meeting. Here’s what to expect:
MCPS capital improvements plan review
On Tuesday afternoon, the council will review Elrich’s recommended six-year capital improvements plan for MCPS, which contains funding for many but not all of the district’s requested projects.
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Elrich (D) in January unveiled his recommended $6.6 billion six-year capital improvements program (CIP) for fiscal years 2027 through 2032. The proposal represents a $634.1 million increase over the current CIP, which is for fiscal years 2026 through 2031.
Of the $6.6 billion total, MCPS would receive $2.14 billion over the next six years.
That amount is $380 million over the district’s amended CIP for fiscal years 2025-2030, but $652.3 million less than the school board’s recommendation for fiscal years 2027 through 2032, according to a council staff report.
To reconcile the funding shortfall, Elrich has recommended MCPS cut projects related to the proposed closure of Silver Spring International Middle School, the installation of artificial turf fields and the construction of a new central office building from its six-year spending plan.
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The council’s Education and Culture Committee reviewed Elrich’s proposed reductions to the MCPS capital spending plan on March 19.
According to the council staff report, the committee largely supported Elrich’s proposed reductions, with the caveat that savings from the proposed installation of artificial turf fields be reallocated to heating and air conditioning work or other “urgent systemic work” in schools.
During his CIP presentation in October, MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor said the district has a $740 million backlog in HVAC projects, with problems with systems often leading to mold in facilities. Taylor also noted there are many schools that need to be renovated, renewed or replaced.
Public hearings on solid waste fees, property tax credit
Starting at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, the council will hold a series of public hearings on topics including Elrich’s proposed solid waste disposal fees and income tax offset credit for fiscal year 2027.
Under Elrich’s budget proposal, annual solid waste disposal fees for single-family residential property owners would increase between 2.1% and 3.7%, according to a council staff report. Multi-family property owners would see increases ranging from 8.6% to 9.9%. Non-residential customers would see increases of 9.7%
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County budget documents say Elrich’s recommended solid waste fees and expenditures are “aligned” with his policy to close the county’s Dickerson incinerator — otherwise known as the Resource Recovery Facility — and replace it with a more sustainable advanced waste processing facility.
Cindy Pena, a spokesperson for the county’s Department of Environmental Protection, has said solid waste charges are proposed to increase for all payers regardless of whether the council supports the closure of the facility.
The council is also scheduled to hold a public hearing Tuesday afternoon on Elrich’s proposed income tax offset credit for fiscal year 2027.
The credit allows county residents who live in the property they own to receive a credit on their property tax bill. The credit is meant to offset a portion of the income tax revenue generated by a county income tax rate that tops 2.6%, according to a council staff report. The current county income tax rate is 3.2%.
Elrich’s proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2027 includes a plan to raise the county income tax rate to 3.3% — the maximum allowed by state law.
The income tax offset credit for fiscal year 2027 would be $692, the same as the credit for fiscal year 2026.
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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine