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Prince George's County Board adopts FY 2026 operating budget amid cuts and advocacy warning
Summary
The Prince George's County Board of Education approved the fiscal year 2026 operating budget on June 26. Board members and staff described cuts to federal and local support and urged continued legislative advocacy to protect school funding.
The Prince George's County Board of Education unanimously approved the district’s fiscal year 2026 operating budget on June 26 after a period of negotiations and scrutiny of revenue assumptions and service priorities.
Board member Zakiyah Lawrence McCance moved adoption of the FY 2026 budget and members voted in favor on a roll call. McCance thanked staff and highlighted the long process that led to the final document.
Board discussion focused on revenue reductions and program impacts. Chief financial staff said federal funding for the district has decreased by more than $4 million compared with prior allocations and noted that several restricted federal grants are expiring. Members also flagged a $3.6 million reduction in the local-share portion of Blueprint for Maryland schools funding and a county-level reduction of roughly $6.5 million for certain district line items, which staff said required reallocations inside the requested budget.
Board member Pamela Boosier Struthers emphasized the public-policy element of budget work and the need to continue advocacy in Annapolis: “We stopped the worst of that bill but we haven't stopped it for the next couple years and that work continues,” she said, urging continued engagement with state lawmakers.
Other board members asked about federal funding types. Staff replied that the district’s federal receipts are predominantly restricted entitlement grants (Title I–IV and special education) and that much of the district’s operational spending is funded from unrestricted local and county revenue. Staff also said they had reconciled the budget transmitted by the county and that the board packet included a reconciliation summary showing where the approved county contribution differed from the district request.
The board recorded nine affirmative votes and the chair announced the motion carried. Board members and staff said next steps include continued legislative advocacy to protect state and county education funding and follow-up work on contract negotiations that will affect total personnel costs.
Why this matters: the budget sets spending priorities for more than 100,000 students in Prince George’s County and determines how the district balances instructional needs, transportation, facility maintenance and personnel while state and county revenues fluctuate.
The board asked staff to provide further reconciled detail as needed and to continue outreach to state and county officials about restoring or protecting educational funding.
