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Wicomico County Board of Education adopts FY26 consolidated current expense budget
Summary
The Wicomico County Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the consolidated current expense budget for fiscal year 2025–26 after public work sessions and a county budget hearing.
The Wicomico County Board of Education on March 12 voted to approve the consolidated current expense budget for fiscal year 2025–26, following multiple public work sessions and a public hearing.
Board approval came after Superintendent Dr. Robert Stauffer and Chief Financial Officer Dr. Reger (presented as Dr. Rager in parts of the transcript) outlined the administration's spending priorities and the request to the county for maintenance-of-effort funding and additional local dollars to offset inflation and support class-size reduction, school climate and safety, and student engagement initiatives.
The board's vote was recorded as a unanimous aye; members present — Mr. Palmer, Mrs. Hazel, Mr. Platts, Mrs. Beecham, Mr. Brown, Dr. Ennis and Chair Malone — voted in favor. The superintendent thanked the community for participation during the county budget hearing and noted the county executive will forward a proposed county budget to the county council in April, with final county budget action expected in early June.
Board members emphasized the months of preparation behind the budget. Dr. Reger said line-item managers began developing requests in September and that the administration balanced fiscal responsibility with operational needs. The board held public work sessions and a public hearing February 6; board members also referenced testimony at a county executive budget hearing the night before.
Discussion by board members highlighted support for continued local investment in schools. Board member comments at the meeting noted the importance of student and community testimony during the budget process and urged residents to follow county budget deliberations.
The budget is now part of the county-level process; the county executive will present a proposal to the county council in April and the council will consider funding levels and any above-MOE requests during its deliberations.
The vote concludes the board's formal step to transmit its FY26 budget position and public justification to county officials.
