Public urges commissioners to fully fund schools as county presents FY2026 recommended budget

St. Mary's County finance staff presented the FY2026 recommended budget; dozens of residents, educators, union and nonprofit representatives urged the commissioners to fully fund the county's public schools and other community services before the budget is adopted in May.

Vanetta Van Cleave, the county chief financial officer, walked through key budget figures: projected county revenues increasing from $323,500,000 to $337,400,000 (a $13,900,000, or 4.3% increase), an $11,500,000 use of fund balance that staff proposed for certain items, recommended general fund expenditures of $348,900,000, enterprise funds budgeted separately, and a FY2026 capital plan totaling $75,400,000 supported by approximately $29,500,000 in federal and state funding. Van Cleave also explained a change from Annapolis: a pension expense that had been estimated at $3,100,000 was updated to…