St. Mary’s County Public Schools presents $307.1M FY2027 recommended budget, explains 18-digit account coding

St. Mary’s County Public Schools staff presented the superintendent’s FY2027 recommended operating budget at a Jan. 14 work session and explained the district’s 18‑digit account coding system used to report spending to the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). "So decoding the 18 digit account number system," presenter Tammy said, describing fund, category, program, location, project and account fields that roll up to MSDE reporting.

The recommendation calls for a $307,100,000 total request, a $9,000,000 (3%) increase over the prior year. Staff said the district is asking county government for a $9,500,000 increase (6.9% local request) and estimates state aid at $148,200,000 (an increase of $1.6 million). "The total request is $307,100,000," Tammy said during the presentation.

Major components: the district identified $8.5 million tied to negotiated compensation increases: steps totaling $4,700,000, a 2% cost‑of‑living adjustment for three bargaining units totaling $3,500,000, and a $300,000 increase for national board‑certified teachers.…