A Practical Guide to Closing the $854 Million Six-Year Structural Gap

Executive Summary

Montgomery County faces an $854 million revenue shortfall over six years while compensation costs at County Government and MCPS accelerate to 7-10% annual growth—three to four times the historic 2.5% average[1][2][3]. This two-page analysis identifies specific areas where cuts can close the structural gap without touching core services like 911, police, fire/rescue, roads, and trash collection.

Key Finding: Modest restraint in compensation growth combined with targeted cuts to non-core programs, NGO grants, and administrative overhead can generate $100-150 million per year in recurring savings—enough to balance the budget without tax increases.

  News & Opinions

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County executive candidates discuss regional issues at Wheaton Collective forum | Bethesda Today | Ceoli Jacoby | March 30, 2026 10:35 am, Updated April 2, 2026, 4:00 pm

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Montgomery County considers new school zones impacting elementary schools | WUSA 9 | wusa9.com | March 25, 2026 11:21 pm Updated March 25, 2026 11:21 pm

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Opinion: MCPS needs to tame its monstrous overhead costs |Bethesda Today | Gordie Brenne | March 30, 2026 3:00 pm, Updated March 30, 2026 2:53 pm

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Opinion: Elrich Is Fighting the Wrong Battle on Pensions

Montgomery County is in a quiet but important fight over who controls billions in pension assets and the math behind them. The question is not abstract: should long‑term pension risk be managed by independent fiduciaries and actuaries, or by the County Executive’s political budget office?[1] [2] [3]

Bill 28‑24 before the County Council would move responsibility for choosing the pension actuary and setting most actuarial assumptions from the Chief Administrative Officer to the Board of Investment Trustees, the body that already has fiduciary responsibility for the retirement plans. County Executive Marc Elrich opposes this shift, and his administration argues that maintaining “shared control” is vital to good governance. That sounds reasonable until you look at how AAA‑rated governments actually run their pension systems.[4] [5] [6] [2] [1] READ MORE

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Is This a Prohibited Contribution Under Public Financing? | Montgomery Perspective | Adam Pagnucco | April 1, 2026

https://www.ld15republicans.com/

Dan Cox for Governor

Esther Wells for County Executive

Freedom, Democracy and Prosperity. It’s what we’ve always been about. Yet so many are afraid those values are no longer attainable. Let me tell you, they are!

Free and fair elections determine our elected leadership. When folks doubt the results, they worry. So help those of us trying to make sure this happens. Make sure only legal citizens vote, make sure votes are counted accurately and quickly – like they are in most of the democracies in the world. And make sure the results are accurate and delivered asap. It’s not too much to ask. Volunteer when you can to work with the elections, the candidates, or the parties and interest groups – to make sure we have valid information and honest results.

IT"S LIKE WE LIVE IN TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS

Freedom is freedom for everyone. After Saturday’s protest, it’s like we live in two different worlds – but most Republicans are supportive of their right to demonstrate – even if they disagreed vehemently with their messages, techniques and dubious funding sources. America and MoCo are strong enough to tolerate political disagreement – without violence. Let’s ensure that.

Prosperity is tougher. I and most Republicans believe the free market and honest labor ensure the most resources to our communities, our friends and our families. Socialism and Communism are failed methods – forcibly taking from some and giving to others drives away enterprise and leads to lower productivity and higher demands for resources from others. It’s a recipe for disaster and has never worked in any society.

Here in MoCo we are poised to make a substantial change in November. We’ve got great candidates for many offices, and we’ll have major wins and major changes in 2027. No longer will we have single party rule, there will be actual conversations about results, instead of how far left to go and how high to raise taxes. Won’t that be refreshing?

Stay up to date. Meet the candidates, ask them questions and when you find the ones you like, support them. Work to get them elected and if you can donate to their campaigns, do so. You’ll be happy with the results – I guarantee it!

Come by HQ Saturday for Coffee with the Chairman. Check out my schedule HERE for next week, and come to one of the events I’m speaking at. We need you, we thank you for your support and efforts, and I personally wish you a Happy Passover, Happy Easter and wonderful Spring.

Yep, we still need the money for the 40,000 sample ballots. If you’d like to help me stock the fund, please donate HERE or at the site further down in this newsletter. And thanks for joining us and being on the right side.

Dennis Melby

Let me know what you think about single party government, high taxes and high spending, the No-Kings demonstrations or the left-wing politicians in MoCo. Write me at [email protected]