A major budget debate is taking center stage in Montgomery County and it could directly impact residents’ property and income taxes.
In this episode of The Pulse, we break down the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, including a 6.3% property tax increase and an alternative plan from Council President Natali Fani-González that aims to provide tax relief for the county’s low- and moderate-income residents, a slight increase for the highest income-earning households.
The discussion comes as education leaders rally for full funding of Montgomery County Public Schools amid the controversial plan to move Wootton High School students to another campus that has parent groups threatening to appeal, making the budget one of the most closely watched issues in the area.
Beyond the budget battle, this episode also covers key local stories, from public safety to environmental threats.
Watch the full episode below: “The Pulse” on the county budget debate, school funding and more
Meet the Team Behind The Pulse:
News
- Markette Sheppard – Host and Executive Producer
- Fran Murphy – Chief Public Affairs Correspondent & Producer
- Cristina Caicedo Smit – General Assignment Reporter
- Maryam Shahzad – General Assignment Reporter
- Frank Hanrahan – Sports Reporter
- Suzanne Pollak – Digital Reporter
Production
- Bryan Washington – Production Manager
- Andrew Nguyen – Director and Lead Photographer
- Bob Kanner – Lead Editor
- Chloe Johnson – Photographer
- Taru Clark – Teleprompter Operator
- Roberto Martinez – Lighting & Photography
- Jacob Ehlers – Story Editor
- Jaclyn Shin – Story Editor
- Jimmy Albert – Set Supervisor
Interns
- Jaria Butler – Social Media Correspondent
- Sophia Hernandez–Piña – Digital Reporter
The Pulse is part of MCM’s ongoing mission to elevate local journalism, amplify community voices, and keep residents connected through the power of local media. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on this and new programming.
