Calvert County board approves FY27 proposal trimmed by $5 million, sends plan to county
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Summary
The Calvert County Board of Education voted unanimously to approve a proposed FY27 budget reduced by $5 million while preserving funding to fully fund negotiated employee contracts; the $298 million proposal now goes to the county commissioners for review.
The Calvert County Board of Education voted 5-0 to approve a proposed FY27 budget that Dr. Newsom told the board has been reduced by $5,000,000 from the January proposal while preserving full funding for negotiated employee contracts and step increases.
Dr. Newsom said the revised proposal "reduces this budget now by $5,000,000" while keeping commitments to staff and shifting certain projects such as artificial turf out of the operating proposal and into the capital improvement plan. He said the revised unrestricted budget total is about $298,000,000 and that the board will forward the proposal to the county commissioners for their budget hearing.
The presentation outlined where reductions were made: elimination of several recommended administrative positions, $840,000 reduced in administration, cuts to instructional supplies and textbooks, and a significant change to capital outlay tied to turf funding. Dr. Newsom said the plan still adds roughly 9.5 net new positions, primarily in special education and transportation, and that the county appropriation request would increase by about $6,700,000 while state aid is expected to rise by about $5,900,000.
Board members asked for clarification about county conversations and how gaps would be closed. Mr. Harrison asked whether the board had discussed county commitments; Dr. Newsom said a meeting took place and that county staff "committed to fund the county's obligation" while noting final figures remain subject to the county's budget process. The staff clarified that the school system does not issue debt directly and that bonding authority and debt issuance rest with the county.
Members and staff also discussed the distinction between operating and capital funding, with staff explaining operating funds typically pay for one-year repairs and capital projects fund multi-year investments. Dr. Newsom said the $5,000,000 reduction assumes available fund balance and that maintaining that fund balance would keep the district in compliance with its policy.
The board's unanimous vote (5-0) approves the proposed FY27 budget as the board's submission to the Calvert County commissioners; the county hearing was scheduled the following day and final county action could require further discussion and votes if amounts change.
