The spending-cap measure that would require all 11 Montgomery County Council members to approve budget increases above inflation still lacks enough verified signatures to appear on the November ballot.

The Montgomery County Board of Elections announced Tuesday, Aug. 11, that it validated 7,999 of the 11,408 petition signatures the Committee to Control Montgomery County Spending submitted July 21, according to Bethesda Magazine. The initiative needs 10,000 valid signatures total.

That leaves a narrow path. The committee submitted a second batch of 2,524 signatures July 27, and roughly 80% of them, at least 2,001, must survive review for the question to reach voters. The Board of Elections must finish that count by Monday, Aug. 17, a deadline that cannot be extended under Maryland election law, Board of Elections President David Naimon said.

What the amendment would change

Right now, seven of 11 council members can pass a county operating budget that exceeds the regional rate of inflation. If the "Stop the Spend" charter amendment passes in November, all 11 would have to agree before spending growth could outpace inflation.

For Bethesda and Chevy Chase residents, the practical effect would be a harder cap on how fast the county can increase funding for schools, roads, parks and public safety without a unanimous council vote.

The players

The initiative was founded by Reardon Sullivan, the Republican nominee for County Council District 1, and is now chaired by Mark Lautman. In a July 25 statement to The Banner, Lautman said the measure does not determine which programs get funded or cut but instead requires the council to set priorities and control overall spending growth.

County Executive Marc Elrich has pushed back. At his July 23 media briefing, Elrich called the proposal "like a noose around our necks," arguing a blunt inflation cap would force the county to shortchange services residents depend on, according to Montgomery Community Media.

The committee has also disputed the Office of the County Attorney's proposed ballot language, calling it confusing and arguing it fails to reference "spending" and "inflation" directly. That dispute went to the Maryland State Board of Elections for resolution.

What's next

The Aug. 17 deadline is firm. If the Board of Elections certifies at least 2,001 valid signatures from the second batch, the charter amendment goes to voters in November. If not, the initiative dies. Residents can track the certification through the Montgomery County Board of Elections.