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Superintendent outlines $20M budget increase, $30M fund-balance use; board discusses cuts, transportation and fees
Summary
Harford County officials said Jan. 13 the preliminary FY26 budget shows roughly a $20 million increase on a $653 million baseline and that the district faces a larger funding gap that will likely require a mix of reductions, fund-balance use and other options.
The Harford County Board of Education received a wide-ranging budget update Jan. 13 that mapped revenue uncertainty, anticipated cost increases and possible reductions for fiscal year 2026.
Finance staff said the district started with a baseline near $653 million and had prepared a draft showing roughly a $20 million increase (to about $673 million) in proposed expenditures; the presentation noted that $30 million of the current-year budget relied on fund balance. Finance staff described a working gap in the $30 million$60 million range depending on state and local actions and on final personnel and contract outcomes.
"We started at $653,000,000 and we're basically at... the budget is going up $20,000,000 to 673," a finance presenter said, explaining the algebra of the preliminary figures and the role of fund balance in the district92s baseline. The finance team warned the board its figures depend heavily on the governor's forthcoming…
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