Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents and educators urge Harford County Council to close $15 million HCPS funding gap
Summary
At a public hearing on the proposed FY2027 budget, 26 speakers — mainly educators, parents and fiscal watchdogs — urged the Harford County Council to restore roughly $15 million to Harford County Public Schools, warning that further staff cuts and reduced services would harm students and compliance with state mandates.
Dozens of Harford County residents and educators told the county council at a public hearing on the proposed FY2027 budget that the school system needs roughly $15,000,000 restored to avoid deep program and personnel cuts.
"Without your support, HCPS will need to make drastic cuts to cover the $15,000,000 shortfall," said Christy Crawford Smith, a representative of the Harford County Education Association, who testified that the district had already cut about 150 positions last year. "This will make our schools unsafe."
Speakers repeatedly emphasized the effects on special education, pre-K supports, transportation and extracurricular programs. "Special education is not an option. Supporting students with disabilities is not extra," Brianna Rutherford, an HCPS teacher and district alumna, told the council. First‑year and veteran teachers described working long unpaid hours to fill gaps left by staff reductions.
Fiscal critics questioned the county's reserves. "The administration is proposing to hold nearly $100,000,000 in various reserve accounts while underfunding education by roughly $15,000,000," said Mike Chufo, a CPA, who urged the council to prioritize investments in students rather than accumulating additional reserve categories.
Other witnesses, including school psychologists, union representatives and parents, warned that larger class sizes and fewer student‑facing staff would worsen outcomes and could jeopardize compliance with state blueprint requirements. "When staffing is reduced, class sizes increase, which impacts both student learning and teacher effectiveness," said Rochelle Johnson, a parent of two HCPS students.
The hearing addressed the proposed annual budget and appropriation ordinance (bill no. 26006), a resolution to maintain the current tax rate (resolution 01026) and the five‑year capital program (resolution 01126). No vote on those items occurred at the hearing; the council accepted oral testimony and will also consider written submissions.
The public hearing concluded after 26 registered speakers delivered remarks. The council did not take immediate action at the meeting; next steps depend on the council's internal deliberations and any amendments it elects to make to the executive's proposal.
