Talbot County Board approves FY27 budget; includes $800,000 placeholder for weapons detection system
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Summary
The board approved a revised FY27 operating budget that includes new positions, added instructional and contracted services, and a capital request with an $800,000 placeholder for a weapons-detection system; total proposed budget presented as $100.9 million.
The Talbot County Board of Education approved the fiscal-year 2027 budget at its Feb. 11 regular meeting after a second‑reader presentation that outlined departmental adjustments and new positions.
Mrs. Jones summarized edits made after the work session: transferring a coordinator position between departments, adding a grant-writer with benefits, four certified teachers for alternative education, one social worker for the alternative education program, $15,000 for SCEP instructional costs, $40,000 for contracted tutoring and a $20,000 correction linked to the career ladder. She also noted benefits costs tied to those positions and a placeholder of $800,000 under equipment for a weapons‑detection system.
Mrs. Jones gave the primary figures: a revised unrestricted operating total of approximately $92,345,690, combined with anticipated grants of about $8.5 million for a total proposed budget of $100,900,000 — an increase of roughly $9.5 million over FY26. She reported 17 new positions included in the submission and described a net transportation budget adjustment that produced no net change after identified savings.
Board members asked about capital timing and facilities needs — one member asked when bids for the Easton Middle School roof would be issued due to active leaks impacting physical-education classes. The budget passed by voice vote.
Clarifying details from the presentation: the $800,000 figure for a weapons detection system was listed as a placeholder under equipment; several added positions and associated benefits were described but some line-item shifts and totals were identified as revised or corrected during the second reader.
