OUR MISSION
The mission of the Montgomery County Taxpayers League (“MCTL”) is to educate and advocate for county taxpayers. We support appropriate actions to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in the government of Montgomery County and tax equity for Montgomery County taxpayers and communities. MCTL holds monthly meetings to which everyone is invited. We host presentations by local officials on topics which have an impact on the county’s finances and consequently our taxes. We actively participate in various public meetings, public comments and other advocacy.
MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
County OIG - A reconstituted Inspector General Office for the county government was implemented in 2020 following the $6.7 million Bang fraud. OIG responsibilities were expanded in 2021 to include MCPS. Our proposal for a separate MCPS OIG is pending in the wake of the Beidleman investigation.
WSSC OIG- An independent Inspector General for the WSCC, implemented in 2018.
Economic Impact Statement- An EIS is now required for all Council bills, implemented in 2020.
MCPS Strategic Plan- Creation of an MCPS Strategic Initiatives Chief and an annual plan approval process by the Board's Strategic Planning Committee, based on our review in 2017.
Esther Wells
President
Esther Wells is President of the Taxpayers League. She is an active Certified Public Accountant in MD since 2010. In 2009, Esther received a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business. In 2015, she received a Master’s in Taxation from Northeastern University, D’Amore McKim School of Business. Currently, she leads the State Indirect Tax Department of a multi-billion-dollar enterprise of companies based out of Washington, DC. She is an Autism mom and parent of two MCPS students.
Esther is focused on educating and advocating for county taxpayers. She supports appropriate actions to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in the government of Montgomery County and tax equity for Montgomery County taxpayers and communities.
Gordon Brenne
Treasurer
Gordie Brenne is Treasurer of the Taxpayers League and was previously Vice President. He learned the importance of local government from his father who was an elected community Trustee and later state representative, and encouraged him to serve first in state government as a budget officer and later as a consultant for all levels of government and commercial clients. He moved to Maryland to direct Marriott's Internal Audit Department and was a food service controller. He's an accountant and has an MBA in quantitative business analysis.
Joan Fidler
Board Member
Joan Fidler is a member of the Board of the Taxpayers League. She previously served as President for 10 years. Her career spans the federal government (where she retired as a member of the Senior Executive Service), local government, university administration, NGO, and the Government of India (where she was a member of the Indian Administrative Service). She has a MA in English Literature and a MPA in Governmental Management which she insists is not an oxymoron.
Ann Guthrie Hingston
Board Member
Ann Guthrie Hingston is a former member of the Senior Executive Service with experience in state and federal government, as a White House staffer. and directing an educational program for at-risk youth in public school districts throughout the U.S. Concerned about good governance, she helped lead two County ballot referendum campaigns. She holds a degree in public administration from Georgetown University.
Leigh Henry
Board Member
Leigh Henry is co-managing member of HIP Projects, LLC, which focuses on multi-modal, smart-growth mixed-use development and apartment management. She also owns Barking Mad Kitchen + Bar in Gaithersburg. Ms. Henry is also co-founder of Future Link, Inc, a nonprofit that seeks to close the opportunity divide for gap for talented young adults by providing them with the resources to achieve educational and career goals. She holds law degree and is Certified Property Manager. Her focus is on housing policy and developing the environment necessary to build great communities.