Queen Anne's County board reviews FY27 draft budget, debates $12.055 million request to commissioners

At a Feb. 11 budget work session, the Queen Anne's County Board of Education reviewed a draft fiscal 2027 operating budget that shows a projected $12.055 million shortfall and discussed asking the Queen Anne's County Commissioners for $12.055 million above maintenance of effort to help close that gap.

For the record, my name is Rob Watkins and I'm chief financial officer here, Watkins said as he opened the presentation, noting the draft book shows "an overall increase going from '26 to '27 of $1.323 million" and that the district's proposed program increase totals $13.379 million, leaving a $12.055 million deficit in the draft.

Why it matters: staff and board framed the request as an effort to restore positions and services cut during recent years and to position the district for state-mandated initiatives. Watkins said the draft includes a 10.5% overall proposal composed of a 7.5% "cost to maintain" and roughly a 3% increase to improve programs. Page five of the budget book distinguishes obligated, contractual increases (labeled the white box) from previously cut or reduced lines the district proposes restoring (the gray box), and page six lists 37 positions under consideration.

What the budget would buy: board members and staff detailed that roughly 13 of those 37 positions would be brand new, including six prekindergarten teachers, two elementary behavior specialists, a grant writer, an additional maintenance employee, an HR specialist and a finance specialist. Staff emphasized that many grants are pass-through federal allocations and do not solve the operating deficit; they also described the potential benefit of a grant writer to manage existing grants and pursue additional funds.

Uncertainties and contingency planning: Watkins told the board the draft assumes a 10% health-insurance increase; if the insurer's actual increase is 5% instead, the district could reduce its requested amount by about $800,000 (bringing the total request down to roughly $11.2 million). Staff said about $8.7 million in the draft represents largely obligated costs (health insurance, negotiated agreements and fixed charges) that are difficult to avoid. Watkins added that the district believes $7 million to $7.5 million above maintenance of effort would be a minimum threshold to "keep the same program going forward," and that receiving less than that would require program adjustments.

Reading and state mandates: several board members raised the state "science of reading" mandate. Staff proposed adding six reading specialists so each elementary school would have a dedicated position and a floating middle-school support position; board members said pre-planning for that work could strengthen justification for additional county funds.

Board response and next steps: multiple board members said they were comfortable presenting the draft budget and the full $12.055 million ask to the commissioners, arguing that requesting the larger figure preserves bargaining space and communicates need. Watkins and staff described the next steps: present the number to the County Commissioners, then revise the budget book and rebalance the draft according to the county's decision before final board action. The transcript records discussion and expressions of support but does not record a formal vote to adopt the $12.055 million request during the Feb. 11 session.

Procedural notes: the board opened the session, approved the meeting agenda and adjourned; the next budget work session is scheduled for Feb. 25 at 4:30 p.m., and the regular board meeting is March 4 at 6 p.m.