Frederick County schools superintendent previews needs-based budget, timeline and pay priorities

Dr. Hummer, superintendent, told the Finance Committee on Jan. 15 that he will present a needs-based budget to the school board next Tuesday and outlined a timeline that includes a public hearing on Feb. 4 and a target school-board adoption on Feb. 18 ahead of county consideration.

The presentation explained why the timeline matters: the division must submit its budget to the Board of Supervisors for inclusion in the county appropriations process, and the county's actions affect the division's final budget and tax-rate advertising. "We are jumping into the first phase of our budget process where we are gonna be presenting my needs based budget to you on Tuesday," Dr. Hummer said. He told the committee members that the presentation will be posted in advance and that the Feb. 4 public hearing will be held at James Wood Middle School to allow for space and public input.

Nut graf: The committee heard high-level parameters that will shape the superintendent's formal proposal next week: the division's operating fund is funded roughly 50% by the state,…