Opinion: Reinvent MCPS to help bolster MoCo economy

Spending needs to be targeted at improving student performance

By Gordie Brenne

December 6, 2025 8:00 a.m. | Updated: December 6, 2025 7:45 a.m.

Jared Smith, the new CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corp., faces a big turnaround challenge. Our local economy is stagnant and our growing poor and senior populations are burdened with inflated residential property tax assessments.      

It will be interesting to see if he does anything with the last economic development plan approved in 2022, or whether he just starts over. The last plan did not include job performance targets, regional road transportation strategies, or a rigorous analysis of our competitive strengths and weaknesses in the region.

The plan also totally ignored two bedrock county service elements that corporations evaluate before relocating: schools and water and sewer service. Yes, a lot of work also needs to be done for timely permitting, and to reduce stifling regulations and high taxes. But in addition, both Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and the Washington Suburban Sanitation Commission (WSSC) have been operating as poorly supervised state monopolies for years and it shows in their high costs     and poor performance.

MCPS has a sky-high overhead rate of 45% vs. 37% for Fairfax County Public Schools for non-instruction spending, which drives high taxes. MCPS operates as a monopoly not adequately serving low-income students, and has blocked access to charter schools. The result is dismal academic proficiency levels for English at 35%, and math at 15%...

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/12/06/opinion-reinvent-mcps-to-help-bolster-moco-economy/

7News takes a closer look at rising legal fees paid by Montgomery County Public Schools

Parents demanded the right to shield their children from books that went against their religious beliefs. The firm Wilmer Hale represented MCPS in a lawsuit about the issue and has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal payments from the school system.

"They're already significantly over budget and that is not the best use of taxpayer funds," said Esther Wells, President of Montgomery County Taxpayers League.

The MCPS Board of Education recently reviewed legal fees paid between July and December.

7News analyzed the numbers and found in Fiscal Year 2023 MCPS paid more than $462,000 in legal fees.

In FY24 that number skyrocketed to more than $1.3 million...

https://wjla.com/news/local/mcps-legal-fees-montgomery-county-public-schools-2023-lawsuit-law-firm-payments-taxpayer-funds-transparency-former-principal-joel-beidleman-parents-community#

July 11, 2023: Montgomery County Taxpayer's League Hosts Councilmember Will Jawando

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0ud-ivrj4qE9eWxkYHRuRdG0_Y4ztPDbI2

 

June 28, 2023: Montgomery County Taxpayers League Hosts Board of Education Member Lynne Harris

EVENT: Wed. June 28th, 2023 at 7pm. MCTL Hosts Lynne Harris, Chair of MCPS BOE Fiscal Management Committee (virtual). Submit your questions. Please register & submit questions https://us06web.zoom.us/.../tZIsceqorzgoG9IQs9Av5JgV...

Opinion: Montgomery County’s Budget: More Smoke and Clouded Mirrors

...To illustrate how this approach would avoid smoke and allow us a clear look into the mirror, let’s use the Montgomery County Public Schools pre-kindergarten education as an example. An MCPS strategy budget schedule would show a line for Pre-K education, with a requested budget of $20.2 million. Base spending isn’t shown in the budget request, but Interim Superintendent Monifa McKnight’s budget proposal references a budget increase of $3.3 million to fund 41.5 more full-time equivalent employees...

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/opinion/opinion-montgomery-countys-budget-more-smoke-and-clouded-mirrors/

Open to the Public: Councilmember Evan Glass joins the Taxpayers League to discuss Thrive 2050 - Wed, December 1st at 12:30 pm

We invite you to join our guest as we discuss the merits, and widespread concerns among residents, of the Thrive plan, including its focus on higher density and “activity centers.” We will ask Mr. Glass, for his views on the overall Plan, proposed rezoning, and the level of public/community involvement. 

Instructions for Joining the Zoom meeting: Via computer CLICK https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89873087297?pwd=N2VFVS9LSnNNeXRDdStQcWxSZEp2UT09 

Meeting ID: 898 7308 7297 

Passcode: 504928 

Via cell phone, call 301-715-8592 

Montgomery County Taxpayers League

Montgomery County Taxpayers League Planning Meeting Wednesday, July 17th 7pm

YOU ENTHUSIASTICALLY CALLED FOR THE MEETING, AND YOUR ATTENDANCE IS IMPORTANT AND WELCOMED!

This is a REMINDER that the MC Taxpayers League (MCTL) Planning Meeting is this Wednesday, July 17^th. It will be in the Patuxent Conference Room, 6th floor of the County Council Bldg, 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville, MD. The meeting will begin promptly at 7:00 pm. 

This is an important meeting. The principal objective will be to continue assigning leadership and recruiting support for key MCTL committees and planned endeavors, such as the Education Summit.  

 

I HOPE TO SEE AS MANY OF YOU AT THE MEETING AS POSSIBLE. Once the people are in place, the Taxpayers League can be the even more potent advocate we all want it to be.

Following is the expected Agenda for the meeting:

 

1. Opening Remarks
2. Review of Agenda
3. Fall Education Summit
4. Website, Soc Media & Public Outreach, Info "Push-out"
5. Increasing Awareness of MC Taxpayers League
6. Growing the Research & Analysis, and Advocacy function
7. Governing Structure – Board Nominating Committee
8. Post-meeting Introductions and Conversations

 

The state of our organization is promising. The level of activity is high and growing, and the potential for the Taxpayers League is considerable. 

 

I look forward to seeing everyone.

Ed Amatetti, President

Montgomery County Taxpayers League

 

Montgomery County Taxpayers League Summit June 10th

Ed Amatetti, Montgomery County Taxpayers League (MCTL)

 

I ask for your Valued Participation at MCTL’s Planning Summit
Monday, June 10th, 2019, beginning at 6:45pm
Rockville Library (Town Center), 21 Maryland Ave, Rockville, MD 20850. 

 

PLEASE RSVP so we have a count. We hope to fill the room for the Summit.

 

Thank you for your friendship and support for my recent campaign for Montgomery Cty. Council. At our November celebration following a well-fought campaign, we were unreserved and clear in our commitment to work together through other means to bring about a better Montgomery County.I have since kept your enthusiastic sentiments in my thoughts, and now hope I can look forward to joining forces with you so we can follow through on our goals.

I’ve been involved with the Montgomery County Taxpayers League for quite some time, and I realize that MCTL is in a unique position to serve as a conduit for achieving our shared goals. I want you to realize this as well. For years, MCTL has proven to be informed, muscular advocates with great successes under our belt – and we want to do more! Accordingly, we are looking to greatly expand our reach and activities by increasing the number of people smart, sensible, civics-minded people – like you – who work with us.  

With all this in mind, I am reaching out to you.  I hope you can participate in the June 10th MCTL Summit.  PLEASE RSVP.History is clear that the best way for citizens to assert themselves is in a unified, non-partisan, and deliberate fashion. We can strongly influence our county’s policies if we marshal ourselves.

SO LET’S DO THIS!  We can have an “ear to the ground,” and even a “seat at the table,” as each year’s county budget is developed -- play an integral role in making our schools world class, crushing the achievement gap, and multiplying magnet programs -- help create a flourishing private sector that creates jobs as fast as our neighbors --- take steps to make our county more affordable -- find workable solutions to our transportation problems and environmental goals.

A Little About the Montgomery County Taxpayers League.

MCTL has been around for a long time (since 1975) advocating on behalf of county taxpayers and residents for accountable, effective, and efficient government. MCTL has built a reputation for integrity, fairness, competency, and hard research & analysis. We have good, smart people on both sides of the aisle, and have worthwhile achievements under our belts through cogent analyses, frequent testimony, bringing cases to regulators, getting legislation passed in Annapolis, and other activities. MCTL seems to have struck a happy balance between having a working relationship with county/elected officials, while remaining 100% independent and a real “thorn in their sides” when necessary. We also have productive associations with civics groups and wish to expand upon this.Please try to attend the June 10th MCTL Planning Summit, or ask someone else to attend in your stead. Once again, thank you so much for your friendship and for making my recent campaign so rewarding.

With Kindest Regards

Ed

Montgomery County Taxpayers League Meeting June 12, 7-9 PM

Montgomery County Taxpayers League Meeting Wed Mar 20, 7-9 pm

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Montgomery County Taxpayers League invites you

to our monthly meeting, March 20th, 2019

7-9 pm

6th Floor Potomac River Conference Room

County Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850
"How we Plan to Govern in Montgomery County"

Gabe Albornoz, Council Member At-Large, Member, Health and Human Services Committee, and Public Safety Committee

Will Jawando, Council Member At-Large,  Member, Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee, and Education and Culture Committee

Following our meeting in January with new Council Members Evans and Friedson, here is an opportunity to meet with the other two new members. 

5 Questions sent to the speakers in advance of the meeting:

1. Bang Fraud - The investigation clearly showed the lack of internal controls at the Department for Economic Development.  The county government does not need another embezzlement of these proportions.  However, the County's external audit contract does not provide for either testing of, or an opinion on, internal controls.  This is true for WSSC and MCPS audit contracts too.  Expanding the County's external audit to include this opinion and additional testing would increase oversight of Department of Finance control activities.  It might uncover control risks in the numerous grants and contracts the County awards annually.  Would you support expanding the audit contract?

2.  Economic Development -  The Fuller Institute just reported that job growth in Montgomery (and Frederick) counties was significantly slower than DC and Northern Virginia.  In fact, over the last 5 years, DC and Northern Virginia have been creating jobs twice as fast as we have.  How do you measure the performance of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation and what are some of the ways in which we can compete with the success of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority?  While we have some of the same assets as Fairfax County (education levels, highly-qualified personnel, good quality of life, good schools), why are we lagging in attracting businesses to the county?

3. Education and Health and Human Services Programs-

The HHS committee controls hundreds of millions in spending to supplement the MCPS budget.  How does the committee coordinate the HHS strategic plan with MCPS planning efforts to close the achievement gap?  More spending has been planned for pre-K education which will serve a fraction of the estimated 30,000 economically disadvantaged pre-K kids.  Will the committee require rigorous academic performance measures to determine if the pre-K program has been successful 3-5 years from now?

The Council routinely approves the MCPS budget without linking spending to plans to close the achievement gap.  How would you change this?

The County Government, WSSC and the Maryland National Capital Parks and Planning Commission each have an Inspector General.  MCPS, the single largest component of the Montgomery County budget does not.  Would you support establishing an MCPS Inspector General?

4. Housing and Economic Development-  The PHED committee revised affordable housing policies a year ago to address the weak inventory which has been stagnant at 16,000 units since 2009.  The inventory is still not increasing as older MPDUs are removed as quickly as new ones are added.  In addition, our locally funded voucher program remains underfunded.   The committee also recommended a new economic development unit which is struggling to compete in our region.  How would you increase the inventory of affordable housing?

5. Public Safety- the 911 emergency response system is run by the County, and unlike the successful program in Fairfax, is slowly transitioning to rely on cell phone data for location response.  The aging system is subject to occasional breakdowns and outages, and accountability for performance is limited.  Would you support making this an independent entity to incentivize performance and reliability?

Taxpayers League: County Executive's Transition Plan

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 

Montgomery County Taxpayers League invites you

to our monthly meeting,  February 20th, 2019 

7-9 pm

6th Floor Potomac River Conference Room

County Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850

                     "County Executive's Transition Plan"

                                      Speaker:  Andrew Kleine, Chief Administrative Officer, Montgomery County Government

Wed 12/14: Superintendent Jack Smith to Speak at Taxpayers' League

Meeting Notice       

www.mctaxpayersleague.org

                         Wednesday, December 14, 2016
   6:00 - 7:30 pm
             1st Floor Meeting Room

         Rockville Public Library

21 Maryland Avenue

Rockville, MD 20850

        PLEASE NOTE NEW TIME AND VENUE

             Free and open to the public

                                                                       

Topic:   " The FY 2018 Proposed Budget for the Montgomery County Public Schools"

Speaker:  Dr. Jack Smith, Superintendent, Montgomery County Public Schools

The following questions have been sent to Dr. Smith in advance of the meeting

1.  What are the costs related to the top three academic strategies - Achievement Gap, 21st Century Education and Special Education for FY 2018.  What percentage of increased spending is for these 3 strategies? 

2.  Data from prior superintendents and reports by the Council's Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO) show that MCPS has expended an additional $2,000 per student annually in "targeted" elementary schools to reduce class size and provide supports to low-income learners.  However the achievement gap by student race, ethnicity and income continues to persist and has widened on several measures of college readiness, such as SAT and ACT performance.   How many schools did not meet district-wide performance targets?  Have you set improvement goals for these schools for FY 2018?  As you have highlighted narrowing the achievement gap as a major goal, would you consider sponsoring an independent review by outside specialists of gap closing strategies to determine which approaches are cost-effective - with a report to the public?

3.  Will you consider charter schools as a means of closing the achievement gap?  A review of Baltimore schools in Freddy Gray’s Sandtown neighborhood showed a charter school (Empowerment Academy) not only out-performed his public school (New Song), but out-performed two elementary (Greencastle and Strathmore) and two middle schools with high FARMS rates in Montgomery County - Benjamin Bannecker and Argyle. (see 5/18/15 study posted on MCTL web site).

4.  Will you use Department of Education standards to decide if there is reasonable evidence to deploy a program countywide.  For instance have the Choice Program and the Middle School Magnet Consortium met their performance goals?  If yes, will they be expanded? Will you reprogram funds if goals for these and other programs are are not reached? 

5.  Are performance target improvements planned for special education students in FY 2018 separate from the at risk population at large? How do the marginal costs to achieve these improvements compare to the marginal costs for at risk students in the general student population for the same measures?

6.   Given that the mandated Maintenance of Effort law may not be able to cover both the program needs of our school children and the salaries and benefits of staff which account for 90 percent of the MCPS budget, will you rein in labor contracts so that teacher's salaries and benefits match more reasonably with their counterparts in Howard and Fairfax counties?

7.  How does your FY 2018 budget manage non-instruction overhead ?  Have you considered benchmarking this against other school systems?  For example, the overhead rate at large school districts in California average 32%.  For MCPS it was 45%  in FY 2017.  Lowering this overhead could result in the hiring of thousands more teachers to lower class size and narrow the achievement gap.  Will you use the expertise of the business community to advise on administrative costs?  Will you consider consolidating administrative functions with those of the Montgomery County government.

8.   Language immersion programs are very popular and wildly over-subscribed.  To open the program to a larger school audience, have you considered innovative solutions such as partnering with universities that provide video classroom learning in a wide range of languages.