September 12, 2023, Community Update: Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget - Understanding the Budget Process and How You Can Get Involved
The Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget process is officially underway and we are pleased to share information about this important process and how you can get involved and share your thoughts on how Baltimore County Public Schools can Fast Forward to meet the needs of all students and staff! BCPS is committed to ensuring all members of Team BCPS understand and have an opportunity to provide input on the annual operating budget process.
Work on the operating budget for the next fiscal year typically begins in the summer, with a preliminary budget estimate completed by early fall. After considering all requests from BCPS offices and reviewing recommendations from schools, executive leadership, and stakeholder groups, the superintendent submits a proposed budget to the Board of Education in January. The Board holds public hearings to gather comments and feedback from the community, and then works to finalize their budget proposal, which is submitted to the Baltimore County Executive and the County Council. The Council also holds a public hearing and approves a budget for the county, which includes BCPS. The Board approves a final budget for BCPS in May.
As a member of Team BCPS, we know you have a special interest in ensuring that all BCPS students receive the best education possible that prepares them to excel in college, careers, military and in life. Our operating budget lays out the strategies we will use to achieve our goal of being a premier school system in the state and nation and matches them with the investments we need to implement the strategy.
County Executive Olszewski, the Baltimore County Council, the Board of Education and members of the community have always made investments in BCPS students and schools a priority, and we believe that our community will receive a strong return on the investment it makes in our students. So, as we work together to build the FY 2025 Operating Budget, student learning will remain our main priority and at the core of our work. We encourage you to be a part of this process. We want to hear your thoughts and ideas on the areas you believe we should prioritize in the budget and investments we should make that will help us provide the greatest public education to every student.
Additional information on how you can get involved in the budget process will be shared soon.
These opportunities will include:
-Operating Budget survey for staff, parents, and stakeholders
-Community forums
-Board of Education public hearings
-A new “Budget 101” website that provides information provides an overview of what’s in the BCPS operating budget
This will be a challenging budget cycle for BCPS and school systems across the nation because federal ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) stimulus funds for public K-12 schools will run out soon. The deadline for spending the funds is September 30, 2024. Many systems will have to face the challenge of how to continue to address the rapidly growing needs of students and significantly improve student learning and well-being. BCPS too, is facing a budget shortfall (“fiscal cliff”) from ongoing ESSER initiatives. Additionally, there are significant new expenses associated with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future legislation which also need to be covered. With these challenges, extra scrutiny will be given to all budget submissions to help identify potential savings that can be redirected to offset this shortfall.
Thank you for being a part of this important process that helps shape the future of our school system.
In partnership,
Dr. Myriam Rogers (Yarbrough)
Superintendent