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County executive warns MCPS cuts will affect student support after council approves FY27 budget
Summary
County Council approved a FY27 operating budget that County Executive Mark said funds MCPS at $3.72 billion but leaves a gap that led the school system to propose targeted reductions totaling about $35.9 million and 415 positions, including reductions to social workers and pupil personnel workers.
County Executive Mark outlined where Montgomery County stands after the County Council approved the FY27 budget, and he warned that reductions to school support positions will have real consequences for students.
Mark said County Council approved a $3.72 billion operating budget for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and that local contributions exceed the state's maintenance-of-effort requirement by about $161 million. Despite record local funding, he said MCPS still faces a roughly $35.9 million gap that the district proposed to close through targeted reductions that could total the elimination or non‑hiring of about 415 positions.
Mark provided examples of categories cited in MCPS materials: roughly 43 social workers, 40 English composition assistants, 27 pupil personnel workers, 21 family engagement specialists, about 21 maintenance workers, 17 emerging multilingual learner therapeutic counselors, 12 media assistants and several central office positions. He said some of these roles are school-based support staff and that cutting them increases pressure on classroom teachers and harms services for students and families.
Mark said staffing decisions themselves rest with the MCPS board and superintendent but said his office will meet with MCPS leadership to explore ways the county can help support affected staff, including identifying county job opportunities for displaced workers. He called the decisions "awful" in the sense that they force difficult trade-offs and urged continued attention to the impact on student services.
