Charles County schools present essentials-only FY2027 operating budget with $549 million revenue projection

Charles County Public Schools unveiled an "essentials-only" proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2027 that estimates total revenue of $549,000,009.61 and requests an $8.3 million increase in county funding.

Miss Acton, presenting the superintendent's draft budget, said the district received preliminary state-aid numbers and is planning conservatively: "This presentation doesn't have all of the slides that we normally will show you...we will show you that on the February 10 board meeting." She described a base revenue budget of $529,000,005.16 and said the district is plugging in roughly $12,000,001.20 of unofficial state funding to arrive at the $549,000,009.61 figure (a 3.9% increase over the current year).

Why it matters: Board members pressed district leaders about how uncertain federal Title funding and higher contracted-service costs could affect student services. Doctor Navarro and Miss Acton said the district has already absorbed some federal reductions into the operating budget and has pursued savings and postponements to balance priorities for students.

Key details: Miss Acton identified mandatory cost increases, including higher healthcare costs and transportation; she also singled out special-education spending as a pressure point. "We don't have enough money budgeted for special education for our contracted services," she said, noting the budget seeks a $4.8 million increase for those services. The presentation also included a small equipment request (two courier vans at $138,004.61) and six staff reductions that, together with other adjustments, produce a balanced plan under current assumptions.

Board response and follow-up: Trustees asked whether federal Title funding cuts would force the district to shift program costs into its operating budget; Miss Acton said guidance suggests cuts are likely and the district is preparing for possible reductions. Doctor Navarro added that the district has taken internal savings steps in FY2026 to soften the impact and confirmed the budget assumes use of $10 million from fund balance, the same amount used in the prior year. Trustees asked staff to continue refining projections and to present full pie charts and detailed slides at the Feb. 10 board meeting.

What's next: The district will present a fuller FY2027 budget package at the February 10 board meeting with expanded charts and more complete county funding information; trustees signaled they will continue questioning the assumptions—especially around special education, staffing and federal grant levels.