Montgomery County commissioners and the Human Services Levy Council have approved $87 million in added levy funding for two county agencies, according to a county announcement dated Sept. 15, 2026.
The package directs $44 million to the Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities Services and $43 million to the county's Children Services division, running through 2030. County officials attributed the need to rising demand, more complex care needs, and state requirements, saying reimbursements have lagged behind costs.
Commission President Carolyn Rice said the money supports children, families, and residents with developmental disabilities without a tax increase. Levy council chair Greg Holler pointed to voter renewal of the levy last fall as the basis for the recommendation.
The county administers more than $143.7 million in Human Services Levy funds across several programs. Since 2023, commissioners have sent $17 million in federal ARPA money and $19.9 million in levy funds to the disabilities board, which reported $9 million-plus in reductions during 2024 and 2025, served 3,842 people in 2025, and has more than 70 people waiting for waiver services. Medicaid waiver enrollment rose 192% from 2006 to 2024, and an 8% state-mandated rate increase added about $6 million in 2024 costs, the county said.
For Children Services, group-home costs have nearly doubled since 2020. The average number of children in care fell 4.3%, from 671 in 2023 to 642 in 2025, while average monthly placement costs rose from about $3.08 million to $3.29 million, according to the county.