JULY 1, 2026 The Tax Man Comes Knocking

As of July 1, Montgomery County homeowners can now check their updated property tax bills, and many may be surprised by what they see. Here’s what changed: the $692 Income Tax Offset Credit, known as the ITOC, was eliminated.

Council President Natali Fani-González proposed eliminating the ITOC as part of the County budget plan, and the County Council approved it, minus Councilmember Andrew Friedson. That means many homeowners are now seeing the loss of that credit on their property tax bills. For homeowners, seniors, and longtime residents, this matters. Affordability is not just about rent or new housing. It is also about whether people who already live here can afford to stay.

Check your property tax bill: https://apps.montgomerycountymd.gov/realpropertytax/. Know what changed. Ask questions. Local budgets affect real households.

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Metro Report Shows Bus Ridership Is Down, and Montgomery County Riders Were Affected

Metro recently released its Metro Bus Action Plan, which looks at how the bus system is performing after the launch of the Better Bus Network in June 2025. 

The report shows some improvements, but it also raises important concerns for Montgomery County residents, especially as local and regional policies continue to push people to walk, bike, and take public transit.

 https://www.wmata.com/content/dam/wmata-com/board-affairs/meeting-materials/2026/2026-06-26-meeting-materials/3A%20Metro%20Bus%20Action%20Plan.pdf

Metro’s report says:

• Metrobus ridership is down 8% compared to FY2025.
• Bus ridership had returned to 2019 levels in October 2024, but started to soften in early 2025.
• Ridership is down in some places even where bus service did not change.
• Slower bus speeds are one concern. On Georgia Avenue in D.C., bus speed decreased, and ridership dropped by 10% year-over-year, which equals about 1,800 fewer daily riders.
• Route changes with local Maryland transit providers account for about one-quarter of Metrobus’s year-over-year ridership decline.
• In Montgomery County, some stops that were previously served by Metrobus are now served by Ride On, including stops along Viers Mill Road.
• Metro says those realigned Maryland and Prince George’s County stops previously carried more than 6,000 average customers.
• Ride On and Prince George’s County Transit reported ridership gains, but Metro says those gains were smaller than the ridership lost from the realigned Metrobus service.

Why this matters for Montgomery County

This is important because many Montgomery County residents depend on buses to get to work, school, medical appointments, grocery stores, churches, senior centers, and community meetings.

When bus routes are changed, removed, consolidated, or shifted from Metrobus to Ride On, riders can become confused. They may not know:

• Whether their old bus route still exists.
• Whether their stop has moved.
• Whether they now need to take Ride On instead of Metrobus.
• Whether the schedule has changed.
• Whether they now need to transfer.
• Whether the bus will still get them to work, school, or appointments on time.

Even small changes can have a big impact on people’s daily lives.

The issue: If transit is unreliable, people won't use it!

Montgomery County and the region are increasingly planning around the idea that more people will walk, bike, and use public transportation. But that only works if the bus system is:

• Reliable.
• Frequent.
• Easy to understand.
• Safe to access.
• Connected to where people actually need to go.
• Available during the times people need it, including evenings and weekends.
• A bus network may look better on paper, but the real test is whether residents can actually use it in their daily lives.

This report confirms the need for residents to be included early in transportation planning. Community members should not have to figure out major bus changes after they happen. Riders need clear information, language access, safe bus stops, reliable schedules, and service that reflects the realities of working people and families.

Public transportation is not just about buses. It is about access, stability, and whether people can remain connected to the communities they call home.

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EPIC’s mission is to ensure that residents - particularly those from historically marginalized communities, this includes you Upcounty - have access to clear information about policies that affect their neighborhoods and their lives. We provide education so community members can make informed decisions and participate meaningfully in civic processes.