Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Jerry Weast announced his $2.16 billion operating budget for next fiscal year Wednesday, asking county officials to fork over an additional $82 million — a request already being dismissed as impossible for the cash-strapped suburb to meet.
“This budget has no new bells, no new whistles,” Weast said. “This is just a straight ‘maintenance of effort’ budget. To go below that would be a grave mistake.”
Under state law known as “maintenance of effort,” local jurisdictions are required to pay the same amount per student as the year before. This fiscal year, Montgomery was granted a waiver to avoid a penalty for not doing so.
Weast said he is simply requesting the same amount of money per student — $10,664 — as requested this fiscal year.
However, much of the increased budget request is tied to salaries, wages and benefits. Step increases for employees are included in the proposal, said schools spokesman Dana Tofig.
An additional $15 million is slated for salaries and wages and another $44 million is projected for insurance and fixed charges.
However, the County Council must approve the budget.
“He’s not going to get it,” said Councilman George Leventhal, D-at large. “We simply can’t afford it.”
