Dawn Luedtke

Wheaton Urban District boundary expansion (Bill 39-26)

Adds modest operating responsibility for the urban district's clean team at the library and rec center.

Short-term rental platform enforcement (Bill 42-26)

Unlicensed operation costs the county licensing fees and 7% transient lodging tax revenue.

Economic Development Fund cuts and equity concerns

A potential $22 million shortfall for disability service providers if the cut takes effect.

Cable TV funding consolidation postponed

About $300,000 in savings is kept, but the consolidation's larger savings wait for FY28.

$1.65 million Economic Development Fund appropriation

$1.65 million from general fund undesignated reserves.

Equity between established and emerging placemaking districts

FY 2026 grants totaled $400,000 for place-based management and $575,000 for emerging business improvement districts — small sums compared to urban district funding.

State TOD designations and the enterprise-zone trigger

Enterprise-zone designation could reduce county property tax revenue through shared tax credits, the size of which isn't yet quantified.

Visit Montgomery Strategic Plan

A TID would add an assessment on hotel bills — meaning potentially higher costs for overnight guests — though the committee did not adopt one.

Economic development funding restructured

$2.3 million reverted to the general fund; $4 million/year annualized for job creation.

Small business innovation grant program sunset repeal

Roughly $200,000 a year in matching grants within a $25 million economic development fund.

SBIR/STTR Matching Grant Program sunset repeal (Bill 22-26)

The Economic Development Fund dollars that back these matching grants would continue to be available to qualifying small businesses beyond the current sunset.

Federal job losses weighing on county economy

Loss of high-paying federal and professional jobs pressures county tax revenue and the local housing market.

Black labor market gaps

Closing employment and wage gaps would expand county wealth and tax base; no specific figure given.

Incubator program pause

$2 million returned to reserves.

Making the SBIR/STTR grant program permanent

No new fiscal impact — the program is already funded through annual appropriations.

Job creation fast-track zoning (ZTA 26-05)

Municipal concerns over county budget and services

Municipal budgets could be affected by county income tax revenue decisions and service agreements.

Expedited approvals for major job creators (ZTA 26-05)

No direct fiscal cost identified; faster reviews could strain Planning and DPS staffing, and incentives tied to qualifying could have budget implications.

Founders' Fund second round delay

$2.2 million is available; administrative funding is the sticking point.

Farmers Markets Recognition