March 31, 2025 Staff and Community Update: Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget Update
Dear Team BCPS—
I want to provide an update on the Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget process. As you know, the Board of Education approved a $2.98 billion operating budget for FY 2026. Since the Board’s February 25 vote, I have continued to meet weekly with the County Executive, her budget team, and members of the County Council to discuss strategies and options that will ensure our system receives the funding it needs to meet the needs of Team BCPS. I have also met with Board of Education members to provide updates and gather input. I plan to provide a detailed community update at the Board of Education meeting on April 8, 2025. As a result of this collaborative work, we have made progress in narrowing the gap in funding. This has required reductions in central office positions at all levels, contractual services, maintaining a central office hiring freeze, as well as other adjustments in costs, supplies and non-labor expenses. We have maintained our commitment to protecting class sizes and current classroom teacher staffing allocations. We will continue to consider all other options to keep our students first.
I, along with superintendents from across the state, am closely following developments regarding Blueprint funding and advocating to our lawmakers and asking them to closely review the proposed funding formula for local school systems and the significant fiscal impact it will have on the FY 26 budget and beyond.
Our budget meetings, advocacy and outreach will continue over the next few weeks. County Executive Klausmeier will present her recommended FY 2026 Operating Budget on April 11. The Council will then have an opportunity to review the proposed budget and will hold a public hearing on the budget proposal on April 29. I encourage Team BCPS staff and families to participate in the Council’s budget hearing to help BCPS fast forward.
Thank you for your support.
Regards,
Dr. Myriam Rogers
Superintendent
Budget 101