MCPS superintendent exempt from Elrich's proposed 10% property tax increase

Superintendent McKnight

Practically everyone has heard by now that Montgomery County Executive Elrich has proposed a 10% property tax increase. If approved by the County Council, the tax increase will impact nearly every resident of Montgomery County.

https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2023/03/property-tax-increase-proposed-as-part-of-montgomery-county-executives-fy2024-budget/

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is proposing a $6.8 billion budget that fully funds the public schools’ request for an increase of $296 million. That would put the operating budget for Montgomery County Public Schools at $3.2 billion.

However, Superintendent McKnight (with a salary of $320,000 + over $50,000 in benefits) is exempt from any Montgomery County property tax increase.  In fact, McKnight is exempt from all Montgomery County property taxes. She is also exempt from paying Montgomery County income tax, which is 3.2% of income.  McKnight is also exempt from Montgomery County energy tax and Montgomery County cell phone tax.  

McKnight's exemption from Montgomery County taxes stems from the fact that she is a Prince George's County resident.

As a Prince George's county resident, the only tax that McKnight likely pays to Montgomery County is sales tax.  Does McKnight shop in Montgomery County?  Maybe to grab lunch, but that's about it.

McKnight's employment contract requires her to reside in Montgomery County by July 1, 2023.  

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/05/10/montgomery-county-mcknight-superintendent-contract/

The contract released Tuesday requires McKnight to relocate to Montgomery County as soon as possible but no later than June 30, 2023. The board will pay up to $15,000 in relocation costs. Her family currently resides in Prince George’s County.

McKnight still owns her home in PG County and there's no indication that she is moving anytime soon.  Her home is not listed for sale with any real estate agent and SDAT records show that McKnight's PG County home continues to be claimed as her primary residence.  

Will McKnight move to Montgomery County by July 1, as required by her contract?  Or will the Board of Education give her an extension?  Or will she rent temporary housing to subvert the contract requirement?  And if she rents, will she inform SDAT that her PG County home is no longer her primary residence?  Will she list Montgomery County as her residence on her income tax return so that her county income taxes will be forwarded to Montgomery County instead of PG County? 

Stay tuned for the answers to these questions and more as we approach July 1.