Board approves FY26 categorical amendment and submits FY27 restricted‑fund transfer for county approval

At the Aug. 5 meeting the board approved a categorical amendment addressing FY26 expenditures and voted to submit a separate FY27 restricted‑fund budget amendment to the Saint Mary's County commissioners. Finance staff reported FY26 overages totaling $931,859, comprised of $242,715 for snow removal and $689,144 in electricity costs; staff recommended offsets including reductions in substitute costs and fixed charges.

A board member moved that the board approve the FY26 categorical amendment and submit it to the county commissioners as required by the Annotated Code of Maryland; the motion was seconded and approved. The board then considered a separate restricted‑fund amendment tied to the Stormbird Connections grant, which staff proposed reallocating to campus safety equipment totaling $470,000. Items listed for the grant reallocation included campus security cameras ($135,000), campus radios ($29,000), wands ($5,000), a server for camera footage ($163,000) and PA systems at two elementary schools ($69,000 each). A motion to approve the restricted‑fund amendment and forward it to the county commissioners passed without recorded opposition.

Board members asked clarifying questions about which schools would receive PA upgrades and whether the reallocation exhausted remaining grant funds; staff answered that Hollywood Elementary is next and that the transfer would use the remaining grant balance. The board took no further amendments at the meeting.