[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6379458,"mediaKeyId","2135941-134696cdd8cf1b47c923be4f30d787b0","parentId",2135941,"title","Superintendent outlines $20M budget increase, $30M fund-balance use; board discusses cuts, transportation and fees","audioSeconds",424,"startMs",2508000,"endMs",2932000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2135941-134696cdd8cf1b47c923be4f30d787b0&start=2508&end=2932","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2135941-134696cdd8cf1b47c923be4f30d787b0/thumbnail_2508000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6379458/Maryland/Superintendent-outlines-20M-budget-increase-30M-fund-balance-use-board-discusses-cuts-transportation-and-fees","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6379458-30c956eeef65074289942b9947d4fc5b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168714&Signature=b-daZgbyMGUQTX43es2Tq9JIWaONhAZ9wbJH4UM1napabYWoboeKlJqz57FzP6gvIMtsgml74M7vkkBIfdOi7oehkuqp6aB1Kf~wPpqJEH~SiJw8cbxQBa8RRcLBar9n2R6x0dryWn7ICe49iz71mJiD0tK4PQ5wjby9rQLjlc4wc8S1MBDkCXCn9l-vQgM7spsGuvsc7L3KqdaN1JO7juzuxuY-WcT8XUTdWC8u1o9rhe0ceEyllj-ADJEP8arKaCdNMUtr65sHoRQRdohuCUiyldwkBBOv~RwffP3vOxyU3YDbztwjDhr-F5uLo9rGe8CE64rfUrgpj9LuI0Cuvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Harford County Public Schools","date","2025-01-13T00:00:00Z","article","The Harford County Board of Education received a wide-ranging budget update Jan. 13 that mapped revenue uncertainty, anticipated cost increases and possible reductions for fiscal year 2026.

Finance staff said the district started with a baseline near $653 million and had prepared a draft showing roughly a $20 million increase (to about $673 million) in proposed expenditures; the presentation noted that $30 million of the current-year budget relied on fund balance. Finance staff described a working gap in the $30 million\u0000$60 million range depending on state and local actions and on final personnel and contract outcomes.

\"We started at $653,000,000 and we're basically at... the budget is going up $20,000,000 to 673,\" a finance presenter said, explaining the algebra of the preliminary figures and the role of fund balance in the district\u000092s baseline. The finance team warned the board its figures depend heavily on the governor's forthcoming budget proposal and on the General Assembly's decisions about blueprint funding.

Superintendent Balson said the district faces a difficult tradeoff between using fund balance to smooth a transition and making recurring reductions: he proposed reducing the planned draw from fund balance from $30 million to $10 million as a starting recommendation and indicated administrators are preparing systemwide reductions totaling roughly $13.4 million (about 145 positions) to shrink the structural ask to a lower, more sustainable figure.

Board members and staff discussed a wide set of possible offsets, including: raising building-use fees, restoring a limited number of program fees (for activities not required by law), targeted contract changes and longer-term operational changes such as outsourcing some transportation or special-education bus services. Several board members expressed reluctance to charge families for core services like daily transportation but said fee options may be considered if funding shortfalls persist.

Transportation emerged as a major topic in the discussion. Staff compared Harford County data with Frederick County and noted differences in mileage, service-area eligibility and the presence of magnet programs that change routing needs. Staff said Frederick County\u000092s greater nonservice-area standard reduces its ridership and mileage; Harford\u000092s dispersed magnet and specialized-program routing is a major driver of mileage and cost. Staff also said the district currently holds multi-year contracts with bus contractors that include minimum-hour guarantees (5 hours and 55 miles per contracted day) that affect cost calculations.

Special education is another key driver: administrators said enrollment and service needs continue to grow, that special-education costs are tied to per-pupil requirements, and that the district is attempting to slow cost growth while meeting legal obligations.

On timing, finance staff said the Maryland State Department of Education will produce preliminary state aid numbers in late January tied to the governor\u000092s budget proposal; the board must finalize its local request before the county processes recommendations. Superintendent Balson said he would present a formal superintendent\u000092s recommendation at the Jan. 27 board meeting and expects the board to hold a community input session in early February and — ideally — to adopt a budget request in mid-February before the county deadline in late February/early March.

No final decisions were made at the Jan. 13 work session; board members asked staff for additional cost and program impact analyses and said they would return to the budget as state and county numbers firmed up.

Votes at a glance: no budget motions were voted at the Jan. 13 work session; the superintendent will present a formal budget recommendation on Jan. 27.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board Meeting - Jan 13, 2025 ","oneSentenceSummary","Harford County officials said Jan. 13 the preliminary FY26 budget shows roughly a $20 million increase on a $653 million baseline and that the district faces a larger funding gap that will likely require a mix of reductions, fund-balance use and other options.","taxTitle","Frederick County Public Schools, School Boards, Maryland","taxId",14207,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6379453,"Board members debate committee rules and a proposed handbook appendix; plan facilitated session",2301,8246000,10547000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2135941-134696cdd8cf1b47c923be4f30d787b0&start=8246&end=10547","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2135941-134696cdd8cf1b47c923be4f30d787b0/thumbnail_8246000.jpg","/articles/6379453/Maryland/Board-members-debate-committee-rules-and-a-proposed-handbook-appendix-plan-facilitated-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6379453-9cd5e0e90d89089dc2293024286d0b3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168714&Signature=oM9PKx~o--e8jEtiMdJgjZX82H1c3FJReYd0yQj60OBkg4SSAReMlkRe00B34vEvnyB1A32ZmBueQX-A7xquF62b2b5bDiP6Gie5~J43Mc3PrEI3v-GfFkMnYybrN916MnNaY72SxdCDJyacUAYzG86GcyL94Z0z06dCI5Oo8feRjGJiRjZfT5BNogoAW08w7k55LTumsuuewfSFOj5WGPPYWWTeS5JmyAMO3xm9usKd8UpkTcNFjhmAV8CG3RfqK5jIlEy1TmxIr194T0l1BopfYgUvD6-8nWJBh~wfAIx2ljfQ3XW2dAvMXk3jU6Ql0vwq5vkleSemNb1~neSAtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Harford County Board of Education spent a portion of its Jan. 13 work session on a proposed revision to the board handbook and a new Appendix E that would provide overarching guidance for board committees.

The draft guidance would document committee purpose and suggested processes for standing and ad hoc committees, citizen advisory bodies and subgroups. Some trustees said the changes provide necessary clarity for committee work and improved public awareness; others called the draft too prescriptive and urged a lighter-touch approach.

\"I don't agree with the changes that were made to committees in the handbook,\" board member Wade said, listing concerns about additional procedural requirements. Other trustees defended clearer expectations for charters, membership and reporting to reduce duplication and to help staff estimate workload.

Among the points debated were whether every committee should create a written charter at formation, what level of routine reporting or agendas should be posted to a shared portal for the full board, and whether legal or budget staff should be named as available points of contact (without requiring attendance at every meeting).

Board members also discussed using facilitated, public work sessions to resolve policy and handbook disputes. President Boynton asked administration to circulate the most recent draft with tracked changes and agreed to arrange a facilitated session if the circulating revisions did not produce consensus.

The board did not vote on handbook language. Members asked staff to distribute the latest consolidated draft to all trustees, and to schedule a facilitated meeting to work through outstanding disagreements before bringing any formal handbook changes back for a vote.","Trustees debated a revised board handbook and new committee guidance (Appendix E) during the Jan. 13 work session, with disagreement over whether board committees should require charters, routine agendas and formal reporting. The board agreed to schedule a facilitated session to resolve outstanding differences.","actionData","errors"]

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Superintendent outlines $20M budget increase, $30M fund-balance use; board discusses cuts, transportation and fees

Board members debate committee rules and a proposed handbook appendix; plan facilitated session