Costco Subsidy Passes Council

Update, 11:30 a.m., May 17:

Three councilmembers, Council President Valerie Ervin (D-District 5), Hans Riemer (D-At Large), and Craig Rice (D- District 2) as opposed to the subsidy voted against a motion to dismiss the subsidy from the Economic Development Fund on Monday. They joined Councilmembers Nancy Floreen (D-At Large), George Leventhal (D-At Large) and Roger Berliner (D-1st District) who supported the subsidy last year.

Councilmembers Marc Elrich (D-At Large), Nancy Navarro (D-District 4) and Phil Andrews (D-District 3), voted for the motion.

The Department of Economic Development's full recommendation to the council is available in the media box above.

Original Story, May 16: Despite appearing in trouble when several council members said they opposed giving $4 million over two years to Westfield for construction of a new Costco at the Wheaton mall, the subsidy passed Montgomery County Council by a vote of 6 to 3.

Wheaton Patch will update tomorrow with more on the council's vote.

This story has been updated to clarify the vote was a motion to remove the Costco subsidy from the Economic Development Fund.