Calvert County board approves FY25 year-end amendment and adopts FY26 budget after extended review

The Calvert County Board of Education on June 30 approved a year‑end amendment to its fiscal 2025 budgets and voted to adopt an initial fiscal 2026 budget after an extended discussion about changes between versions and the use of fund balance.

Scott Johnson, the district's chief financial officer, presented the FY25 amendment and the FY26 proposed initial budget. Johnson told the board the FY25 amendments reflect updated information for the general fund (unrestricted and restricted), the food service fund and the school construction fund and are presented “in accordance with Calvert County Public Schools policy 50 five‑fifteen.” He cautioned that year‑end accruals — revenue and expenditures that post within 60 days after June 30 — are not final until the closeout process, and said, “The budget reflects my best estimate of the total interest earnings for FY25, and that's a little over $1,600,000.”

Board members voted to approve the FY25 year‑end amendment before taking up the FY26 proposal. A motion to approve the FY25 amendment was seconded and approved; the board chair announced the motion carried 5‑0.

Why it mattered: The two votes set the district's starting spending plan for the new fiscal year and determine how much of the district's fund balance will be used for recurring and one‑time costs. Board members repeatedly asked staff for a clearer, line‑by‑line reconciliation between the packet shown at the June 12 meeting and the updated packet the board considered on June 30.

Discussion and key changes

Board members pressed for a granular…