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Board approves $10 million emergency lift and $4.5 million transfer to cover rising costs
Summary
Charles County trustees approved a $10 million FY2026 budget increase and a $4.5 million inter‑category transfer, drawing on the fund balance to cover health care, special education, transportation and plant costs amid warnings that sustained draws will reduce fiscal flexibility.
The Charles County Board of Education voted unanimously April 14 to increase the FY2026 budget by $10 million and to approve an inter‑category transfer of $4.5 million to align spending with rising costs across health insurance, special education, contracted services and student transportation.
Superintendent Maria Navarro and finance staff told the board the additions are necessary because inflation, higher contract costs and special‑education needs have pushed actual spending beyond previously budgeted amounts. Presenters said the $10 million would come from the district’s fund balance if approved.
Board members pressed staff on the size and sustainability of future draws from reserves. One trustee noted that the district’s unassigned fund balance stood at about $16 million and that repeated withdrawals at that scale risk leaving the system without the cushion needed for unexpected capital repairs or other emergencies. Finance staff said recommended unassigned reserves are often in the $20 million range and that sustained uses of fund balance would require difficult choices in future budgeting.
Public commenters and union leaders urged the board to press county commissioners for full funding. Veronica Golden, vice president of the Education Association of Charles County, said, “Our schools need to be fully funded,” and called for transparency about how money is spent.
The board motion to approve both the FY2026 increase and the inter‑category transfer passed unanimously. The public record and the motion indicate the transfer will be used to cover specified line‑item shortfalls and that staff will report back with final allocations and any further implications for the FY2027 budget request to the county commissioners.
Next steps: staff will finalize the accounting entries, update the public budget documents and present details at the April 29 county budget hearing and at upcoming work sessions so the board and community can track the longer‑term plan to restore reserves.
