The Montgomery County Council postponed a heavily anticipated vote on the budget Thursday morning, and then, in front of a packed meeting room that afternoon, postponed it again.

The announcement triggered boos from the audience of county employees and others. Much is at stake.

Faced with a revenue gap, along with pressure to fully fund the school district and avoid drastic tax hikes, the council gave itself more time to agree on a plan. It’s expected to reconvene Friday and needs a super majority — eight of 11 votes — to pass the budget. This first vote is preliminary but a strong predictor of the final vote, which must happen by June 1.

To the full meeting room, Council President Natali Fani-González said: “We have more discussions to have among colleagues.”

Advertise with us

Later, in an interview with The Banner, Fani-González said, minutes before Thursday’s expected 1 p.m. vote, she was asked to provide more time for members to deliberate.

“If one person needs more time,” Fani-González said, “I’m going to give it to her.”

Council members — three of whom are running for county executive in next month’s Democratic primary — know there is no budget, especially in tight financial times, that will please all constituents.

This week, Superintendent Thomas Taylor laid out the consequences should the council send schools less than his roughly $3.8 billion operating budget request. It could cost hundreds of employees – social workers, central staff and teachers – their positions.

The council’s delayed vote means another day in limbo for the people who fear for their jobs.

Advertise with us

“I’m scouring job applications just to have some sort of security, because I don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Paige Herndon, a media assistant at Quince Orchard High School.

Tax decisions

County Executive Marc Elrich recommended an $8 billion operating budget. He called for an approximately 6% property tax hike, along with a 0.1% income tax increase, saying more revenue is necessary to fully fund the school district’s request.

Most council members opposed Elrich’s plan as too burdensome for residents grappling with federal job losses and inflation.

A slim majority of council members endorsed a progressive income tax plan that would raise rates by 0.1% for residents with an annual income greater than $150,000.

This week, council member Kate Stewart asked staff to determine how a 2-cent property tax increase would impact the budget.