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Garrett County board adopts FY27 operating budget after county offsets state shortfall
Summary
The Garrett County Board of Education on June 9 approved the final FY27 operating budget after county commissioners agreed to provide $1.5 million to replace most of a state funding shortfall; the vote was unanimous.
The Garrett County Board of Education on June 9 adopted the final operating budget for fiscal year 2027 after district leaders said county commissioners agreed to replace most of a shortfall created by state funding changes.
Superintendent Dr. Miller and Ashley Gfely, the board’s director of finance, presented revisions that arrived with Maryland’s finalized state aid file on May 19. The presentation highlighted program-level changes — most notably a reduction in Pre-K state and local shares — and small net changes to unrestricted and restricted revenue lines. Dr. Miller thanked county commissioners for stepping in to fill the majority of the loss.
Why it matters: school operating budgets determine staffing, programs and services for the coming year. District leaders said the county’s contribution reduces the risk of program reductions and provides the district with a recurring funding commitment from the county.
Details of the revision process: Gfely said the district recorded small adjustments across multiple budget pages. On the Pre-K program the state share decreased by $28,355 and the local share decreased by $65,414; the presentation identified a combined $73,869 reduction from state and federal sources that the district offset by increasing the fund balance. Other line-item changes were described as minor updates to employer fixed charges and restricted revenue allocations.
Dr. Miller summarized the larger funding picture in remarks to the board and public: "We lost through the state revenue related to the disparity grant and our commissioners listened to our request and met our request to replace $1.5 million of the $1.8 million that we had lost in our operating budget," she said, thanking the commissioners and noting the county indicated the $1.5 million will continue to be awarded to the school system.
Board action and vote: A motion to adopt the superintendent’s proposed FY27 operating budget passed on a recorded voice vote; board members present signified approval and the motion carried unanimously.
What’s next: The approved budget will become the district’s operating plan for FY27. District staff will execute the budget and report as required by board policy and state law.
