May 22, 2026

Montgomery Community Media

Markette Sheppard

In this week’s edition of The Pulse, get the latest update on the Maryland State Board of Election’s mail-in ballot error that affected more than a half million voters, including many Montgomery County residents.

Then, we report on the outcome of the hotly contested now approved budget for fiscal year 2027, plus the impact the final council decision will have on MCPS jobs.

Then, The Pulse takes a closer look at the Montgomery County Council’s newly approved $7.9 billion county operating budget for fiscal year 2027. The spending plan avoids a property tax rate increase for most residents, but includes significant changes to the county’s income tax structure and falls $36 million short of the money requested by Montgomery County Public Schools, meaning hundreds of MCPS jobs will be cut to close the funding gap.

Watch the full episode of The Pulse below:

The episode also features:

• State Senator Cheryl Kagan’s successful effort to create Maryland’s first statewide 311 service
• Continued debate over proposed data centers in Montgomery County
• Spring sports highlights with Sports Reporter Frank Hanrahan
• Trending local events and community features from across the county