Baltimore County board approves $3.0 billion FY2026 operating budget amid debate over school allocations

Baltimore County — The Board of Education of Baltimore County approved Superintendent Darryl Rogers’s proposed fiscal year 2026 operating budget on Feb. 25, voting 9–3 to adopt the plan after public comment and several amendments failed.

The budget request, described during the meeting as roughly $3.0 billion, preserves current staffing allocation formulas and funds year two of a three‑year compensation package for the system’s roughly 20,000 employees, Rogers said. "This proposed budget prioritizes recruitment and retention by honoring year 2 of a 3 year compensation package for every single member of team BCPS," Rogers told the board.

Nut graf: Board members, union representatives and parents framed the vote around staffing, special education services and school‑level discretionary budgets. Speakers at public comment urged the board to fund special education services, support new and…