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In order to make Montgomery County more economically competitive, attract jobs, and maintain a quality of life for current and future residents, we must address the school funding crisis now.

Let’s begin to reclaim the resources needed for our students as well as services for our communities.

That is why we are coming together — a coalition representing more than 30,000 Montgomery County workers as well as parents, students, and community members — to support County Executive Marc Elrich’s revenue enhancement measure — a 10-cent increase in the County’s property tax rate; all the revenue generated by that increase will be exclusively directed to Montgomery County Public Schools.

The members of MCEA, FOP Lodge 35, MCAAP/MCBOA, IAFF Local 1664, SEIU Local 500, and UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO are the people on the ground educating our children, responding to emergencies, providing nursing care, and so much more. Our job descriptions may be different, but our needs are strikingly similar.

We feel the critical teacher and staffing shortages in our communities. These across-the-board staff vacancies have resulted in slower emergency response times, lower quality education for our children, and disrupted public services.

Per pupil spending is lower today than it was 12 years ago; our wages are stagnant and the cost of living is too high, leading to a massive loss of a talented and skilled workforce, which severely hinders our chances of success in the future. Today, one teacher will cover multiple classes. Today, one administrator will wear six different hats. Today, one school support worker will provide services to significantly more students. Today, one law enforcement officer will respond to several more calls. Today, one nurse will travel to multiple schools to provide services to students who are sick.

A lot of elected officials have repeatedly said that they want to make it easier for residents to live here. Approving double digit rent increases, while underfunding our school system does not make it easier for residents to live here. There is no world where we genuinely believe that an extra $42 a month on a property tax bill is too high, but an extra $200 a month for rent is perfectly fine.

We cannot put students first if we put teachers last. We support our students by increasing the wages of educators and staff – including classroom teachers, school counselors, school psychologists, media specialists, bus drivers, paraeducators, food service workers, assistant principals – the list goes on.

In turn, this would free up vital resources for all county workers such as librarians, nurses, bus operators, 911 dispatchers, public transportation, public safety, health and human services, mental health professionals, school nurses, and health techs.

The recommended budget will be reviewed by the County Council over the next two months. The Council will adopt the new County budget in late May. The new budget will go into effect on July 1.

Now is the time for a real investment in our communities and students — for the good of our teachers, nurses, firefighters, and the residents who rely on them.

We call on the County Council to ratify Executive Elrich’s budget with the revenue enhancement and begin to reclaim funds and resources for our schools and communities and give back to the teachers and county workers who have given so much.