On Friday, May 15, the Montgomery County Council approved the $143 million budget increase for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), falling short of the district’s request by $36 million.
The vote was tense, with multiple Council members tearing up during the meeting. The meeting had a morose tone to it; councilmen, even those in favor of it, repeatedly expressed their disagreements with the budget.
Councilman Sidney Katz (D-3), who voted in favor of the proposal, called the budget “not the brightest thing that we could do, but it is necessary.” Councilman Will Jawando (D-At large), who joined Councilman Katz in voting to adopt the budget proposal, explained drearily, “We are in the place where there are no good options. There are worse options.” They were joined in voting in favor of the bill by Council President Natali Fani‑González (D-6), Vice President Marilyn Balcombe (D-2), and Councilmembers Kate Stewart (D-4), Kristin Mink (D-5), Evan Glass, Shebra Evans, and Laurie-Anne Sayles (D-At Large).
Council members who opposed this vote were Andrew Friedson (D-1) and Dawn Luedtke (D-7).
This move will have a significant impact on MCPS: Para-educators, college advisors, security staff, and other crucial members of the school system may have to be let go as cuts are made.
