The Wizards of Rockville Strike Again

We have prepared this detailed analysis to show homeowners, commercial property owners, multi-family landlords—and by extension their tenants—what the "Wizards of Rockville" have cooked up now!

The tax math and language these officials use is obtuse at best. But YOU know when you get stuck with a huge tax hike, compounded with ever-increasing assessments by Maryland's State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) that are just jaw-dropping.

Not to be outdone by what they caused in 2023 by raising tax rates, recording fees, and mortgage fees—County Executive Marc Elrich, "Senator" Will Jawando, and Council Members Kristin "Fix My Flat Tire" Mink, Natalie Fani-Gonzalez, "Takoma Kate" Stewart, Laurie-Anne Sayles, and Sidney Katz are back at it in 2026, pushing massive tax increases due this September.

Elrich, Jawando, and the Council majority refuse to do their jobs to balance the County and School budgets without punishing taxpayers.

By The Numbers: Your Tax Burden Explosion

Residential Property Tax Impact (2022-2026) 

Table 1: Residential property tax increases from 2022 baseline to 2026 proposed rates

The average Montgomery County homeowner will see a 29.3% increase in their property tax bill in just four years—while inflation over the same period was only 14%.

Commercial & Multi-Family Property Impact

Commercial property owners and apartment complex landlords face even steeper increases:

Table 2: Commercial and multi-family property tax increases

Each apartment unit will cost $945 MORE in property taxes in 2026 compared to 2022. Do you think landlords absorb that cost, or do they pass it directly to renters?

The Perfect Storm: Rising Assessments PLUS Rising Rates

County officials love to claim they're just "adjusting rates" or that "assessments are handled by the state." But the combination of both creates a devastating double-hit:

SDAT Assessment Increases (Recent 3-Year Average)

• Residential properties: 5% increase
• Commercial properties: 9% increase

Montgomery County Tax Rate Increases 

Table 3: Residential tax rate history and proposed 2026 increase

Table 4: Commercial tax rate history and proposed 2026 increase

Instead of lowering tax rates to offset the natural revenue increases from higher property values, Elrich and the Council majority chose to raise rates even further—maximizing the burden on families and businesses.

The GROWTH Zone Swindle

As if the tax increases weren't enough, County officials are now pushing the so-called "GROWTH" zone tax proposal for FY2027-28:

• Up to 75% additional tax on all commercial properties countywide
• Up to 15% additional tax on commercial properties within 1/2 mile of planned Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors

This proposal would add a cumulative 13% increase on targeted commercial properties—including apartment buildings. That means more rent increases for Montgomery County families already struggling with the highest cost of living in Maryland.

Who's Responsible?

County Executive Marc Elrich

Elrich has proposed every single one of these tax increases. His FY2027 budget includes:

• 3-cent property tax increase ($0.063 per $100)
• 1 percentage point income tax increase (3.2% to 3.3%)
• Continued expansion of spending without prioritization or reform

Will Jawando and the Tax-and-Spend Council Majority

Council members Jawando, Kristin "Fix My Flat Tire" Mink, Natalie Fani-Gonzalez, "Takoma Kate" Stewart, Laurie-Anne Sayles, and Sidney Katz have repeatedly voted in favor of these increases rather than demand structural budget reforms, spending prioritization, or operational efficiency improvements.

They won't do their jobs. Balancing budgets means making tough choices—not reflexively raising taxes every single year.

The Bottom Line

• Typical homeowners face a 29% property tax increase from 2022-2026
• Commercial property owners face a 26% to 43% increase depending on location
• Renters will see inevitable rent increases as landlords pass these costs through
• Inflation over this same period: only 14%
• County officials refuse to control spending or find efficiencies

The Wizards of Rockville have failed Montgomery County families, seniors, small businesses, and renters.

What Can You Do?

1. Contact the County Council before the May 2026 budget vote and demand they reject these tax increases
2. Attend public hearings and make your voice heard
3. Share this report with neighbors, family, and colleagues
4. Vote in November 2026 for candidates who will prioritize taxpayers over bureaucratic bloat
5. Support the Montgomery County Republican Central Committee as we fight for fiscal responsibility

Contact Information

Montgomery County Council

• Phone: (240) 777-7900
• Email: [email protected]

Montgomery County Republican Central Committee (MCGOP)

• Address: 15833 Crabbs Branch Way, Derwood, MD 20855
• Phone: (301) 417-9256
• Website: mcgop.com
• Email: [email protected]

Data Sources

All tax rate data sourced from Montgomery County Department of Finance official records and County Executive budget proposals.

Assessment data sourced from Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) press releases for Groups 1, 2, and 3 (December 2023, 2024, 2025). Inflation data from U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washington Metro Area Consumer Price Index.

Complete source spreadsheet with detailed calculations is available for download HERE

Note: The source data spreadsheet is provided in read-only format to preserve data integrity.

Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee

Report prepared March 2026