Montgomery Council, citing schools needs, trims raises for unionized employees

The Montgomery County Council, taking a rare hard line with its public employee unions, tentatively agreed Monday to trim negotiated pay increases for county workers and approved a record $2.4 billion schools appropriation, on condition that the Board of Education reduces teacher pay hikes and uses the extra money to pare class size and upgrade instruction.

The council’s actions represent a bid to soften the blow of two major tax increases built into the proposed county operating budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1: a property tax hike of 6 to 9 percent and a rise in taxes on home sales that will increase closing costs.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/montgomery-council-citing-schools-needs-trims-raises-for-unionized-employees/2016/05/16/ecdc8428-1b5e-11e6-b6e0-c53b7ef63b45_story.html