BCPS Budget Cuts Possible, Baltimore County Faces Tough Choices: Report

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Baltimore County Public Schools will not get all the money that it requested this year, WYPR reported Tuesday.

BCPS wants all but about $20 million of the $127 million in new money available to the county, WYPR said. The public radio station said about half of that new money must go toward mandatory costs like employee health insurance and repaying debt, however.

Maryland's multi-billion budget shortfall further complicates the county's spending.

WYPR said Maryland is passing $17 million in traditional state costs to Baltimore County.

The county's $400 million in annual federal aid is also up in the air amid President Donald Trump's proposed cuts, WYPR added. WYPR said federal aid contributes to the salaries of about 600 county employees and funds housing vouchers for folks with low incomes.

Related: MD Lawmakers Protest Trump's Cuts, Data Sharing In Baltimore County

BCPS may be forced to make cuts to its $2.98 billion fiscal year 2026 budget proposal.

At a January work session, BCPS Superintendent Myriam Rogers said there is a $19.92 million "variance" between the school system's request and the state's proposed contribution, The Baltimore Sun reported.

Rogers' proposal includes a $126.4 million increase over this year's general fund budget. That's up 6.5% from the current fiscal year 2025 budget.

The Sun, however, reported that the budget proposal is up 21.7% from last year when also counting the capital budget for construction projects. The Sun said the large increases, which appear in even-numbered budget years because of ballot referendums on construction funding, will contribute to a replacement of Dulaney High School and renovations at Towson High School.

These challenges come as Maryland faces a $3 billion statewide budget deficit, leading Gov. Wes Moore (D) to push some funding responsibility back to the counties.

Moore's budget proposal includes $2 billion in cuts, but he plans to fill the remaining gap with tax hikes on the highest earners and raised fees for state services.

Moore "would create a new 6.25% tax rate for people who make more than $500,000 and a 6.5% rate for taxpayers who make more than $1 million," the Associated Press reported. On the flip side, AP said nearly two-thirds of Marylanders would receive a tax cut, while 82% would either receive a tax reduction or see no change. The tax relief would benefit residents with low and middle incomes.

BCPS is scheduled to adopt its budget proposal at its Feb. 25 meeting at 6:30 p.m.

To learn more about Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier's (D) plans for her first budget proposal, scheduled to be unveiled in April, read WYPR's story.

Related: BCPS Short $20M In Budget Proposal, Job Cuts Also Planned: Reports