On Tuesday, eleven Montgomery County chambers of commerce jointly urged the County Council to remove a proposed 3.4% property tax increase from the FY2026 budget, citing concerns about the financial impact on residents and businesses.
Angela Franco, President and CEO, Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, who testified at Tuesday’s County Council hearing in Rockville, released the following statement on behalf of the coalition of Montgomery County chambers:
“Many businesses and households in Montgomery County are already struggling. Tax and cost increases in recent years have been significant and only served to make the County a less desirable place for economic growth. This latest proposed property tax increase of 3.4% will once again financially strain Montgomery County’s businesses and residents. After all, the County raised property taxes by 4.7% just two years ago. We strongly urge the County Council to vote ‘no’ on this property tax increase proposal for fiscal year 2026; otherwise, the County will not only decrease its current competitiveness, but also lose additional growth opportunities.”
The coalition members include:
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Asian American Chamber of Commerce
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Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce (GGCC)
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Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce (GBCC)
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Greater Rockville Chamber of Commerce
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Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce (SSCC)
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Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce
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Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Montgomery County (HCCMC)
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Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce
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Olney Chamber of Commerce
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Poolesville Area Chamber of Commerce (PACC)
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Wheaton & Kensington Chamber of Commerce
Montgomery County Councilmember Evan Glass also released a statement on Tuesday night regarding the tax increase:
“Over the last few weeks I have heard from residents across Montgomery County who have expressed their thoughts about the county executive’s 3.5 cent property tax increase.
I share their concerns that now is not the time for a property tax increase.
Montgomery County is home to 70,000 federal workers and tens of thousands of contractors who are currently facing financial uncertainty due to President Trump’s dismantling of the federal workforce. Many residents across the county have also seen their property values increase by upwards of 40% following assessments from the State Department of Assessment and Taxation.
We must be mindful of the current economic situation we are in and prepare for the precarious future ahead.”
Glass joins Councilmembers Andrew Friedson and Laurie-Anne Sayles in opposing the proposed increase.