Press Release: World-Class Public Schools and Services Begin with Us
April 13, 2023
More than 500+ teachers, law enforcement officers, administrators, support personnel, government workers, firefighters, property owners and retirees tell County Council tonight: It’s time to pass a reasonable, affordable and necessary 10-cent tax increase for our kids, our communities and our future
Rockville, MD- In an unprecedented show of solidarity for an investment in public education, unions representing more than 50,000 Montgomery County workers will hold a press availability and speak at tonight’s County Council budget hearing in support of County Executive Marc Elrich’s budget, which includes vital funds for public education through a proposed 10-cent property tax increase.
The union coalition says County Council should responsibly invest in our public schools with an affordable revenue enhancement that will in turn make our schools and communities more attractive for businesses and residents.
“World-class public schools and services begin with us,” said Jennifer Martin, MCEA president.“The Montgomery County community must know what is at stake if we do not immediately address the staffing crisis: higher class sizes, fewer school staff, fewer 911 dispatchers, not enough frontline workers like nurses, mental health providers, healthcare techs, police officers and firefighters.”
In order to make Montgomery County more economically competitive, attract jobs, and maintain a quality of life for current and future residents, the school funding crisis must be addressed now, which will bring more value to all residential properties and begin to reclaim the resources needed for our students as well as services for our communities.
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.
We cannot put students first if we put communities last. Supporting Montgomery County means increasing the wages of educators and school staff – including classroom teachers, school counselors and administrators, school psychologists, media specialists, bus drivers, paraeducators, food service workers, assistant principals and 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.
When adjusted for inflation, cost per student proposed in the 2024 budget is still 6.3 percent lower than it was in 2010- a remarkable 12.9 percent below 2010 (see budget analysis attached).
The recommended budget will be reviewed by the County Council over the next several weeks. The Council will adopt the new County budget June 1. The new budget will go into effect on July 1.
PRESS DETAILS
WHAT: Press availability with all six unions
WHO: Members of MCEA, FOP Lodge 35, MCAAP/MCBOA, IAFF Local 1664, SEIU Local 500, and UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO
WHEN: Thursday, April 13
TIME: 5:30 PM
Visuals: Members will be making protest signs at 5:15 PM in front, March begins at 6 PM;Public hearing begins at 7 PM
WHERE: Council Office Building Cafeteria, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville 20850
Contact: Dalbin Osorio, 202-603-5564, mceapress@mceanea.org