Council Candidate Seeks Greater Effort on Economic Development
Republican Tom Ferleman delivers speech on economic development | Facebook
A candidate for Montgomery County Council on Wednesday said he would increase economic development by more than 50 percent over the next four years.
Tom Ferleman, a Republican running for the District 2 council seat, said that by increasing the commercial tax base, the county could increase jobs. It also would increase business taxes, which would shift what he called an imbalance in relation to residential taxes.
Ferleman broadcast the speech on Facebook Live, in front of a boarded-up medical center in Montgomery Village, his hometown.
He said most municipalities receive 60 percent of its property taxes from residential properties and 40 percent from commercial properties. In Montgomery, that split is 80-20, he said.
“Property taxes have become a second mortgage that homeowners can never pay off and an endless expense that grows more and more costly each year,” he said.
“The pace and scale of property tax increases over the last decade are overwhelming. Since 1990, residential property taxes here have grown more than twice as fast as the state’s median household income,” Ferleman said.
He said residential property taxes consume 6.4 percent of a typical household income. In 1990, that figure was 3.6 percent, he said.
This guy makes sense. Finally someone taking about making things better. Those sound like real solutions. You got my vote.
The property taxes in MoCo are a never ending drain on the citizens …Would totally agree that if we can have a more business friendly outlook we can capture more great businesses (in lieu of them going to Virginia) , increase our tax base, employ more people, provide better services and reduce the taxes on the citizens in Montgomery County….
I really wish Tom Ferleman had run for County Council long ago–before the sitting (and failing) council members practically ruined this great place we call home. Absolutely everything Tom is proposing is 100% sensible (regardless of party lines). Let’s get him elected and give him a chance to see if he can roll-out his agenda.
Finally, a candidate that understands how to lower residential property taxes without cutting any programs by bringing jobs home to Montgomery County. The common sense leadership that Dr.Ferleman promises is the change MoCo needs. Tom definitely has my vote.
I have met with Tom. He is the real deal. Whether you consider yourself a D or an R, his message resonates. We need his fresh voice on the Montgomery County Council. It has been a tail of 2 counties. South county has great schools and low unemployment, leading to higher property values, less crime, and a better and quality of life. It is time for up-county residents to have a voice. Tom is that voice. As a long time business owner and north county resident, I can assure you he will represent US and our concerns.
I absolutely agree with Tom. Property taxes have gotten out of control and I don’t see anybody else really addressing it. He has my vote