The state is expected to contribute $11.6 million more to the Anne Arundel school system?s upcoming operating budget, school officials said.
“On Jan. 16, we got documents of preliminary calculations from the [Maryland State Department of Education] and were pleasantly surprised,” said Susan Bowen, the school system?s director of budget and finance.
“The county?s share of the budget will be going down, but the total budget request doesn?t change.”
Superintendent Kevin Maxwell?s proposed operating budget is $968.8 million, nearly $100 million more than last year?s approved budget.
The school system had projected $269.4 million in state funds and now could see $281 million. This would decrease the county?s share from $633.2 million to $621.6 million, Bowen said.
The school system usually receives preliminary projects in mid-November, but this was delayed because of the legislative special session, Bowen said.
The information is reliable, but it all is contingent on Gov. Martin O?Malley?s budget passing as proposed, she said.
Lately, Maxwell has expressed doubt that his request will be completely funded, but Bowen said the additional state funds would help.
“I think it?ll help so more [programs] will be funded,” Bowen said. “Every million helps us, so we?ll see.”
In Maxwell?s budget, $72 million of the $100 million increase in funds is budgeted to fund negotiated teacher and other employees? salaries and total compensation packages.
In conversations with County Executive John R. Leopold, Maxwell said Leopold has agreed to fund the negotiated teacher contracts, making up $51 million of that $72 million, but has left the funding of negotiated agreements with other nonteaching staff in doubt.
Look ahead
Next steps in budget process:
» Feb. 20: School board approves operating budget.
» March 1: Operating and capital budgets are forwarded to county executive.
» May 1: County executive?s recommended budgets are forwarded to County Council.
» Mid-May: County Council holds public hearings.
» June 1: County Council?s deadline to approve final budgets.
» June 18: School board approves budgets.
» July 1: Budgets implemented.
Source: Anne Arundel County Public Schools
