St. Mary's County Public Schools presents superintendent's proposed $293.2 million FY2026 budget

The St. Mary's County Board of Education held a work session on the superintendent's proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, during which district staff presented a recommended operating budget of $293.2 million and detailed program- and category-level changes. Miss McCourt, who led the presentation, said the priority of the budget is "the instruction of those students" and that the plan focuses on funding negotiated agreements and core student services.

The budget proposal emphasizes employee compensation and benefits, transportation supports and fixed charges. Highlights presented to the board include a $3.1 million (3.1%) increase in instructional salaries and wages to cover negotiated agreements; a $1.6 million (2.3%) increase in fixed charges largely for Social Security, health insurance and workers' compensation; and a $126,000 (0.5%) increase for student transportation that preserves a bus driver retention stipend and raises contracted driver and attendant hourly rates. Special education shows a requested increase of $1.1 million (4.8%). Miss McCourt told the board that those negotiated packages include across-the-board step and cost-of-living adjustments and new pay scales for certain employee groups.

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