What are the current programs, services and positions being considered for reduction or elimination to close the remaining budget gap?

To build the scenarios, staff worked with principals and other school-based and non-school-based leaders to consider many programs and services. These are the same considerations the Superintendent began socializing publicly at the Board budget work session on April 29th. These considerations are very impactful and not decisions we want to make. Any decision in these areas will result in an impact on valued positions, services, and programs. It is our hope that any eliminated positions will be able to be absorbed through annual attrition.

What was the budget gap following the County Council approving their budget?

Following the County Executive’s amendment and County Council’s approval, the net budget gap has been reduced but not eliminated. Earlier this month, County Executive, Calvin Ball, committed $14.5 million additional dollars to our budget using a provision in the County Charter that will allow PAYGO funds to be used for recurring expenses and be included in next year’s Maintenance of Effort calculation. This amendment was approved by the County Council.

What scenarios to close the budget gap did staff present for Board consideration at the May 27th work session?

Staff presented two scenarios with several options at the May 27 budget work session for Board consideration.

The first scenario would result in a class size increase of one at the secondary level only and be adjusted to not impact middle and high schools with higher rates of students qualifying for free and reduced meals. This scenario totals $7.5 million dollars of school-based cuts impacting 94.8 positions, and $1.4 million dollars of non-school-based cuts impacting 7.0 positions, including:

School-Based

Should investment income and fund balance alone be used to close the budget gap?

One way to close the budget gap, which has been floated publicly by several people and discussed during our most recent work session with the County Council, is to increase projections for investment income, leverage unassigned fund balance, and tap the health fund balance. It has been stated that these three mechanisms alone would reduce the remaining gap. Unfortunately, this is not possible, nor is it recommended. Here is more information about what it would look like and the associated risks we would be assuming if we went that route.

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