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Worcester County Board of Education requests $11.1 million increase, cites teacher pay and class-size priorities
Summary
The Worcester County Board of Education presented a FY2026 operating budget request that would raise spending by $11,128,285 (10%), driven mainly by negotiated salary increases, health insurance and student-support services. The school system asked the county for a $116.6 million local appropriation and noted state and grant funding changes.
The Worcester County Board of Education presented a FY2026 operating budget request on April 8 seeking an $11,128,285 (10%) increase over FY2025, driven largely by negotiated pay increases, fixed charges and investments in special education and student supports.
The request lists total unrestricted revenue of $145,021,039, including $27,416,342 in state aid (about $1.46 million more than FY25), a proposed county local appropriation of $116,562,686 and $200,000 in local grant funding from the Donnie Williams program for after-school and summer-school services, Vince Tolbert, chief financial officer for Worcester County Public Schools, said during the presentation.
The district highlighted compensation as its single largest cost-driver. Officials said the FY26 proposal includes a negotiated package that adds a $4,000 flat increase for certificated staff and a $2,000 flat…
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