Complete and personalize this template and send it to your county council member and the 4 at-large members of the county council.

Please read the template carefully and replace all of the brackets with your own information. Do not send a letter with any brackets in it. This is a fill-in-the-blank template you must personalize. 

• Personalize the Bracketed Text: The Council uses “deduplication” software; if everyone sends the exact same text, it is counted as a single message. Adding your specific story and personalizing the template ensures your voice is heard.
• Focus on the “Net-Win”: Remind them that we aren’t asking to cancel the tax break—we are asking to calibrate it so the community doesn’t lose essential services.
• Mention the “Unseen Workforce”: Remind them that as a non-profit/artist, you provide the County’s cultural services without the overhead of a government department.

 

Subject: Support Progressive Taxes AND the Arts! Protect NDA Funding

Dear Council President Fani-González and Councilmembers,

My name is [Your Name], and I am a [Artist / Educator / Staff Member / Resident] living in [Your Neighborhood/District].

I am writing to express my support for Council President Fani-González’s vision for a progressive income tax and property tax relief for 96% of our residents. I believe in a Montgomery County that prioritizes its most vulnerable and eases the burden on working families.

However, I am deeply concerned that the current proposal to seek $25 million in savings from Non-Departmental Agencies (NDAs) disproportionately targets the arts and humanities. While our sector’s funding represents only 0.1% of the total County budget, we are being grouped with 12 organizations asked to solve nearly 16% of the Council’s targeted savings goal.

A substantial funding cut to the Arts and Humanities Council (AHCMC) would have a devastating impact on my work and our community:

• Impact on Programs: [Insert 1-2 sentences here. Example “This cut would force the cancellation of our after-school youth program in Gaithersburg…” or “As an individual artist, my grant from AHCMC is what allows me to provide free workshops to seniors.”]
• Impact on Staffing: Our creative workforce is already under immense pressure from waning foundation and federal support. Further local cuts will inevitably lead to [Insert impact example here. Such as: reduced hours, loss of positions, or inability to hire local contractors].
• The Residents We Serve: We serve [Number/Demographic if you have them] residents who rely on these cultural programs for their quality of life and education.

There is a way to have both a tax break and a thriving cultural sector. I urge the Council to consider a minor “shoulder adjustment” of 0.15% to the income tax for households in the $150k–$300k range. This adjustment should fully restore the $25 million for NDAs including the arts and humanities while preserving the 96% tax break, ensuring that these families receive a significant net savings in their pockets compared to the original budget proposal.

Please do not let “progressive action” result in the liquidation of the cultural soul of our County. We ask you to protect AHCMC’s budget allocation and the funding of the other non-profit partners who do the work of the County every day.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Organization, if applicable]

[Your Address + District]