By Adam Pagnucco.
Stop the Spend, a ballot proposal by District 1 County Council candidate Reardon “Sully” Sullivan, would restrict the rate of spending growth in the county’s annual operating budget to the rate of inflation. The council could override the limit with a unanimous vote. For the proposal to be approved, Sully and the Committee to Control MoCo Spending must gather at least 10,000 valid signatures from county voters on their petition to place it on the ballot and then voters must approve it in the November general election.
The committee claims that it submitted more than 11,200 signatures to the county yesterday. Those signatures will be checked by the county’s Board of Elections and some are sure to be rejected. The committee also claims that it will submit another batch of signatures on July 27, the legal deadline for submissions.
The committee is counting on outrage over recent huge property tax bill increases to fuel both signature gathering and voter support. However, if the ballot question does indeed make the ballot, it will not go unopposed.
The Committee to Control MoCo Spending’s press release is reprinted below.
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July 21, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: info@controlmocospending.com
Stop the Spend Initiative Submits over 11,200 Signatures.
The ballot initiative moves closer to giving voters a direct voice on County spending and tax increases.
ROCKVILLE, MD — July 21, 2026 — The Committee to Control Montgomery County Spending (https://controlmocospending.com/) today announced that it has summitted over 11,200 signatures toward its effort to place the “Stop the Spend” initiative before Montgomery County voters.
The proposed charter amendment limits the annual growth of overall county spending to the rate of inflation unless all members of the Montgomery County Council unanimously vote to exceed the limit.
Mark Lautman, an independent voter and Chairman of the ballot issue committee noted: “The goal is simple: Limit County spending increases to the prior year’s rate of inflation.” Lautman clarified, “This measure does not determine which programs are funded or reduced. It simply requires the County Council to establish priorities, make responsible budget decisions, and control the overall growth of spending.”
Reardon “Sully” Sullivan, who was the original chair of the ballot committee until he stepped down to run for office, indicated: “I launched the ‘Stop the Spend’ ballot petition last year, because I could see the never-ending budget failures of the County Council. I decided that the best thing I could do for the County is to introduce legislation that would put guardrails on County spending.”
Sullivan further noted, “Montgomery County families are being asked to pay more year after year. While County spending rose over 44% in the past 8 years, most residents feel that services have not kept up. This initiative requires County leaders to justify spending increases that exceed inflation.”
“This proposal does not tell the County Council what to fund,” Sullivan said. “It simply requires County leaders to have a serious public conversation before increasing spending faster than inflation.”
Supporters say the measure has attracted interest from residents across the political spectrum who are concerned about affordability, property taxes, County fees, and the long-term sustainability of County spending.
The committee is continuing its signature gathering and is planning one more submission before the July 27th deadline.
Residents interested in learning more, volunteering, or supporting the effort may visit: https://controlmocospending.com/
About “Stop the Spend”
Stop the Spend is a Montgomery County ballot initiative seeking to limit annual growth in county spending to the rate of inflation unless the Montgomery County Council unanimously votes to exceed the limit. The initiative is intended to promote fiscal discipline and public accountability.