By Adam Pagnucco.
Below are the top ten stories on Montgomery Perspective in December 2025, ranked by page views.
1. MoCo Revenues Crash and Burn
2. Facts, Not Fear, Should Guide the Crown/Wootton Conversation
3. Rockville City Council Member Makes the Case Against Relocating Wootton High School
4. Apple Ballot Announced for County, School Board Races
5. Volunteer Fire Fighters Association Has Financial Problems
6. Why Another Tax Hike is Inevitable
7. Van Grack Replies to Hernandez on Wootton High School
9. Inspector General: Volunteer Fire Association Ineligible to Get Ambulance Fees
10. Be a Reporter or Columnist. You Can’t be Both
One of the most important stories going into the spring will be the county’s budget. Revenues have been written down as the Trump administration’s federal cuts take effect, and that will collide with the county’s compensation commitments. Since compensation accounts for a huge majority of the county’s budget and elected officials will be loath to touch it during an election year, that guarantees that tax increases will be on the table. We may see the first hint of them in the county executive’s recommended capital budget, which is due to be unveiled on January 15. A related story is how the executive deals with MCPS’s record capital request, which will demand tax increases and/or more borrowing to fully fund.
All of this will set the stage for a historic Democratic primary in June, when voters select the likely next county executive and many new members of the county council.
On to January!