'Reckless' Federal Cuts Would Squeeze Already Tight School Budget

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — School officials worry about what possible federal education cuts would mean for Baltimore County's most vulnerable students.

Almost 8% of the Baltimore County Public Schools budget comes from federal funding.

BCPS is counting on roughly $178 million in federal funding in the budget that's currently under consideration.

The federal government does not plan to revoke all funding for local school systems, but it has slashed support for initiatives deemed wasteful. School districts have also been warned that diversity, equity and inclusion programs could be deemed discriminatory and warrant federal funding cuts.

"There is federal uncertainty," Superintendent Myriam Rogers said at a Thursday budget meeting with the Baltimore County Council. "Title I is our largest source of federal funding."

Title I is a federal program that supports schools in communities with high poverty rates.

Title I and special education initiatives account for roughly two-thirds of the federal funds that BCPS receives, said George Sarris, the school system's acting chief financial officer.

"It's significant," Sarris said. "The students in poverty and students with disabilities are those that would be most directly affected."

Sarris added that BCPS has about 1,200 positions funded with federal grants.

"These are people that work hard for our kids each and every day," County Council Member Julian Jones (D-Woodstock) said. "We want to make sure that these reckless cuts, reckless, ill-guided cuts that are coming down from D.C. do not affect our kids and the people that work here."

With President Donald Trump's plans to close the Education Department, future federal investments in county schools are up in the air.

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon wants to "give parents and states control over their children's education" because "education is fundamentally a state responsibility."

"Instead of filtering resources through layers of federal red tape, we will empower states to take charge and advocate for and implement what is best for students, families, and educators in their communities," McMahon said in a press release addressing Trump's proposal. "Closing the Department does not mean cutting off funds from those who depend on them—we will continue to support K-12 students, students with special needs, college student borrowers, and others who rely on essential programs. We're going to follow the law and eliminate the bureaucracy responsibly by working through Congress to ensure a lawful and orderly transition."

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown (D) in March joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general suing the Trump administration to block the proposed Education Department closure.

"President Trump's attempt to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education threatens to strip Maryland schools of critical resources, leading to larger class sizes, fewer services for students with disabilities, and deepening inequities between well-funded and struggling districts. The impacts wouldn't just affect grade school students; young adults' may not be able to pay for college with federal student loans and grants, forcing them to change their hopes and dreams," Brown said in a press release. "My Office is taking legal action because every Maryland student—no matter their zip code—deserves a quality education, and we will not allow the federal government to abandon its duty to our children."

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BCPS would face tough decisions even without federal funding uncertainty, as state spending is an even larger issue.

The state had a budget deficit of $3 billion this year, so it shifted some funding responsibility to the counties.

The Baltimore County Board of Education had previously agreed to employee pay raises spread over three years, but Rogers on April 28 announced that BCPS needs to renegotiate those salary bumps.

The increased compensation was slated to cost $55.9 million, Rogers said.

Other bills that were higher this year included:

• Utility costs (Up $9.8 million).
• Non-public placement costs (Up $9 million).
• Health care and benefits (Up $12.6 million).
• Other post-employment benefits to the county (Up $14 million).

Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier (D) said she couldn't fulfill BCPS's budget request, which sought a sharp funding increase from last year.

Klausmeier increased funding by 3.5% over maintenance of effort, the state-mandated minimum spending per student. That's still 6.5% less than what BCPS had requested.

The county executive gave BCPS $71.7 million less than what it sought for its general fund, but she gave $29.5 million more than requested in the capital construction budget. That surplus cannot be transferred to the general fund to offset the operating budget deficit.

All in, the net school budget deficit is $42.9 million.

To address the shortfall, Rogers has suggested:

• Eliminating additional supervisory central office positions.
• Extending the hiring freeze for all central office and non-school-based positions.
• Reducing funding for supplies and materials by 24% ($14 million).
• Implementing additional cuts to division and department budgets.

The final budget must be approved by the County Council before fiscal year 2026 starts this July 1.

Related:

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