# Montgomery County Council's last big push

> Tax credits, a vetoed planning board pick and a trash incinerator decision all land on one September agenda.
- Title: Montgomery County Council's last big push · The Banner
- Summary: Tax credits, a vetoed planning board pick and a trash incinerator decision all land on one September agenda. With terms expiring in December, this council…
- Keywords: montgomery county, local government, tax credits, maryland politics, gaithersburg, news, local, Montgomery, County, Council's, last, big
- Source: The Banner — https://thebanner.com/politics-power/local-government/montgomery-county-council-to-do-list-D64MW7RRABFYTHKZ6IBLWXE6L4
- Author: Ginny Bixby
- Published: 2026-09-12T09:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: montgomery county, local government, tax credits, maryland politics, gaithersburg, news, local
## Back from a seven-week break
The Montgomery County Council returns Tuesday to a packed agenda: tax credits, contested appointments and the fate of the county's trash incinerator.

> It will grapple with proposed tax credits, controversial appointments and the future of the county's trash incinerator, among other issues.
## Jawando's seat in question
At-large member Will Jawando is recovering at home after a heart attack and surgery. He says he'll return soon, but whether he joins Tuesday's meeting was still unclear Friday.
## The clock runs out in December
Current members' four-year terms expire in December. Anything they want on the books has to pass before a new council is sworn in.

> it's crunch time to get bills passed before a new council is sworn in
## Nine bills, three tax credits
Council members plan to introduce nine bills Tuesday. Three come from Kate Stewart, who says they answer rising financial pressure on county families.
## Who the credits would reach
One bill boosts the county supplement for homeowners earning $106,800 or less. Another grants $2,500 to unionized school employees. A third gives $500 per child to parents making $15,000 or less.
## A veto to override
The council voted 10-0 to reappoint James Hedrick to the planning board. County Executive Marc Elrich vetoed it, and the 11 members will vote in coming weeks on overriding him.
## The incinerator decision looms
After 10 public hearings, environmental officials will lay out replacement options. Council President Natali Fani-Gonzalez wants a decision by Thanksgiving, and residents are already frustrated.
## Gaithersburg braces for a shuffle
If Mayor Jud Ashman wins the District 3 county seat in November, he resigns Nov. 9. The City Council would pick a new mayor from its own five members and appoint a replacement by Oct. 2 applications.

> no one knows the role and the issues and the culture here better than my five City Council colleagues do
## Key takeaway

With terms expiring in December, this council has a narrow window to finish what it started, and the incinerator is the biggest call left.