Joint Letter from the Board Chair and Superintendent on the County Executive’s FY26 Budget

April 23rd, 2025

The following message was issued by Howard County Board of Education Chair Jolene Mosley and HCPSS Superintendent Bill Barnes on April 23, 2025, and shared with HCPSS staff, students, families and community members.

On Monday, County Executive Calvin Ball released his Proposed FY 2026 Operating Budget, which will now be considered by the Howard County Council. We are appreciative that County Executive Ball prioritized the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) in his presented budget and in his consideration for where new available funding will be allocated. In total, the County’s revenue is expected to decrease by 1.6% from the 2025 fiscal year budget and nearly 64% of all new General Fund revenue growth is being directed to HCPSS.

County Executive Ball and his staff have been collaborative and willing partners throughout the budget development process, and we acknowledge the tight fiscal restraints he is working within. We appreciate the $39.3 million in recurring funds above Maintenance of Effort funding and the $1.5 million in funding that can be used for one-time expenditures. The County Executive also included $6.7 million in employee pension costs in his budget, a budget item which has been transferred to county governments beginning next year by the State. The significant State deficit and Federal cuts have each had a sizable impact on the County’s budget and has increased uncertainty at all levels of government. Without considerable tax increases on Howard County residents, there simply was not going to be enough available funding to meet the budget request of the school system and other County entities that provide important community services to residents.

County and State budget challenges do not eliminate the reality of mandates imposed on the school system, and these escalating costs affect our operating and capital needs. The amount of recurring funding allocated to the school system in the County Executive’s budget is $39.3 million more than the County is required to provide. However, it is well below the $107.3 million requested to fund the needs identified in the Board of Education’s requested budget.

Last year, we engaged in a very difficult budget process that resulted in decreasing or eliminating several programs and support services that directly served students. Additionally, we reduced our Central Office staffing by 10%, resulting in HCPSS having the smallest administrative support team by percentage among peer districts in Central Maryland. School-based staff are feeling the impact of diminished available support and resources.

This year, we must account for several escalating mandates and commitments, including:

• Funding associated with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future requirements;
• Per pupil funding allocations that do not adequately account for high inflationary costs and rising insurance requirements, resulting in less funding available per student;
• Special education costs that continue to rise at a rate higher than the national average;
• The physical safety and wellbeing needs of our school communities that continue to exist; and
• The teaching profession is struggling to recruit, prepare, and retain the number of skilled educators needed to fill open positions, requiring enhanced financial and workload incentives that appeal to current and potential educators.

Over the next several weeks, the Board of Education and staff will work closely with members of the County Council to consider the impact that the proposed level of funding will have on the school system. Additionally, we will engage in public work sessions to consider ways to close the $70.1 million gap between the Board’s requested budget and the proposed funding allocated to the school system by the County Executive. Unfortunately, tough decisions are going to have to be made to balance the budget.

Decisions by the school system, County Executive, and County Council are difficult to make during restrictive budget years. We wish to reemphasize that the County Executive and members of the County Council have been collaborative and willing partners who understand the needs of the school system. Receiving additional funding from the County Council will certainly come at a cost to other areas and services that receive County funding, and there will still be tough decisions to make by the Board of Education. Even so, we will continue to advocate for the resources necessary to ensure every student has the support and opportunity they need in order to participate and graduate with their dreams intact and prepared for success.

The work ahead of us will be done in a transparent manner so all members of our community understand the decisions being considered and have opportunities to lend their voices to the process.

We appreciate all staff, families, bargaining units, County Government staff, and elected officials for being understanding and collaborative partners as we navigate another difficult budget cycle.