Montgomery County officials unveiled a 2026 proposed budget featuring a 4% property tax increase to help close a $25.5 million deficit. The budget gap will be filled by using the $12 million in new revenue generated by the tax increase and relying on $13.5 million from the fund balance. The county trimmed more than $14 million in costs by reducing benefits, operating expenses and legal fees, and eliminating vacant positions, but personnel, health-care costs, debt service and inflation remain major financial pressures. The budget also invests in homelessness services, public safety and long-term growth as the county prepares for continued population increases. Raising the millage rate from 5.252 mills to 5.462 mills would amount to an additional $36 per year for an average single-family home with a $556,600 market value and $171,200 in assessed value. An additional millage increase from 0.39 to 0.49 mills — about $17 for the average property — is proposed to support Montgomery County Community College. The budget is now advertised for public review, with hearings scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 4, and a final adoption vote on Thursday, Dec. 18.
Source: The Reporter; 11/13/2025