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1 day ago | bethesdamagazine.com | Ginny Bixby

Speakers in County Council Chambers during a income tax public hearing on May 13. Photo credit: Ginny BixbyDozens of community members packed the Montgomery County Council chambers in Rockville on Tuesday afternoon to share their views on County Executive Marc Elrich’s (D) controversial proposed income tax rate increase — despite the diminishing possibility that the council will agree to hike taxes to help fund the county operating budget for the coming fiscal year.

2 days ago | bethesdamagazine.com | Ginny Bixby

Montgomery County Council President Kate Stewart (D-Dist. 4) at a press conference on April 3, 2025. Photo credit: Benjamin Sky Brandt/Montgomery County CouncilThe Montgomery County Council announced Tuesday morning a proposal drafted in partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) that would fund 99.8% of the school system’s $3.65 billion budget request for fiscal year 2026 without requiring an income tax increase.

2 days ago | bethesdamagazine.com | Ginny Bixby

Neel Patel, 24, of Illinois, will serve 18 months in prison for scamming an elderly Montgomery County resident into buying nearly $800,000 in gold bars. A Montgomery County Circuit Court judge also ordered Patel to pay more than $330,000 in restitution. [The MoCo Show]Dave Barry to headline Gaithersburg Book FestivalPulitzer Prize-winning writer and humorist Dave Barry will headline the annual Gaithersburg Book Festival on Saturday.

2 days ago | bethesdamagazine.com | Ginny Bixby

County Executive Marc Elrich (D) addresses community members at a resource fair in Rockville on Dec. 8, 2024, as members of the County County look on. - Image Credit: Benjamin Sky Brandt/Montgomery County CouncilTension is growing between supporters and opponents of Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D)’s proposed income tax increase as the County Council nears Thursday’s deadline to vote on the proposal.

2 days ago | bethesdamagazine.com | Ginny Bixby

The Montgomery County Council is hosting a public hearing Tuesday on a potential income tax rate increase proposed by Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D) to help fund the county operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Councilmembers will also introduce a zoning text amendment (ZTA) that would restrict where cannabis dispensaries can be located and host a public hearing on funding the purchase of relocatable classrooms for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).