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Commissioners hold off on large recurring school funding commitments pending 'Kirwan' legislation
Summary
Board members at the March 12 work session agreed to delay major recurring commitments for the Board of Education until state education legislation (referred to as 'Kirwan') and related funding become clearer.
St. Mary’s County commissioners said on March 12 they would defer significant recurring funding decisions tied to the Board of Education until the state’s education package — discussed in the meeting as the Kirwan proposals — becomes clearer.
Why it matters: Participants repeatedly described the Kirwan proposals as a potential source of new county obligations that could materially change local budget priorities. Commissioners said they wanted to avoid committing county recurring revenue to new programs that the state might later mandate or reshape.
Key points and context
- County position: Commissioners said they were prepared to honor prior negotiated agreements (the county is in the final year of a multi‑year contract with the school system) but were reluctant to commit new recurring dollars beyond negotiated obligations until the state’s actions are settled.
- State grant language: Meeting participants noted the Kirwan proposals include state grant funding that could be conditioned on local contributions (e.g., a targeted 3% teacher‑pay requirement tied to state grant disbursements). Staff and board members disagreed about whether those grant dollars would be recurring and how to account for them in county planning.
- Next steps: Commissioners asked county staff and the school system to continue dialog and to return with clearer fiscal scenarios after the legislature acts. Several commissioners asked the county attorney for advice about legal obligations if the bill becomes law.
Ending
Commissioners told school officials they would review the school request again once the state budget and related legislation are clearer. The board did not adopt a final funding change at Tuesday’s session.
