Additional $5M From Howard County Earmarked For HCPSS Budget

Columbia MD

19 May, 2022

12:29 PM

Description

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — An additional $5 million in county money will be funneled to the Howard County Public School System's operating budget, bringing the county's portion of funding above the "maintenance of effort standard" to a record $45 million. Combined with $10.75 million in additional HCPSS reserves that can be used in this year's budget, nearly $16 million will be added to the HCPSS budget proposal for recurring purposes. Between the amended budget proposal and any additional HCPSS spend from reserves, it is expected that 288 new positions will be created in several educational areas in the fiscal year 2023 operating budget. Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and County Councilmembers said at a news conference that they intend for the revised budget to support: more than 150 new positions in special education;nearly 80 positions for pre-kindergarten, which include more than35 pre-kindergarten positions for special education;26 positions for college and career readiness, which includes 23 positions to target loss of learning in reading and math;19 positions for behavioral health and student well-being including an LGBTQIA+ specialist and Hispanic Achievement Liaisons;and 14 positions to support the opening of new high school 13, which when opened will be the county's first new high school since 2005. The overall proposed school system budget for FY23 would be $1.026 billion, which remains the highest amount ever and the first HCPSS operating budget to exceed $1 billion in county history. If approved, this additional funding will increase the proposed budget to $45 million above maintenance of effort, marking the largest increase above maintenance of effort in county history by at least $15 million. The increase would bring county funding above maintenance of effort over the last four years to $62.8 million, well more than triple the increase over the previous four-year period. Recurring county and state funding for HCPSS increases by nearly $84 million, also the largest increase in HCPSS history. To produce the new funding in FY23 supporting recurring educational needs, the jointly sponsored amendment avoids impacts to county services by moving $4 million from the county health benefits fund and $1 million from the risk management fund, and includes $10.75 million from the HCPSS fund balance that had previously been identified by HCPSS as a potential source of supporting additional positions. In FY24 and beyond, the county will be responsible for funding these positions out of operating funding. A separate amendment to the proposed budget also will be filed to shift $15.6 million in proposed one-time county funding to county contingency, following a Maryland State Department of Education determination regarding qualifying nonrecurring cost exclusions. Howard County is appealing that decision. "This increased funding meets the needs of our community, and makes our record funding for schools even stronger," Ball said. "I am pleased that the executive and legislative branches worked collaboratively with the school system to adapt to evolving needs and provide resources in special education, mental health, career readiness and other areas." "This revised budget represents our continued record investment in education while carefully balancing other critical needs in our community," added Council Chair Opel Jones, D3. "Strengthening supports for our educators and students has remained a top priority and I appreciate the county executive's leadership in recognizing ways we can continue to do so. I'm proud that my colleagues and I have reached consensus and achieved this outcome." The final vote on amendments and the budget is scheduled for May 25.