Teacher Pay Raises At Risk, Tight Budget Forces Renegotiation In Baltimore County

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — School officials are reopening negotiations on promised pay raises amid a tight budget year in Baltimore County, reports said this week.

WJZ reported that Baltimore County teachers are amid an already-approved three-year pay increase.

Superintendent Myriam Rogers, however, sent a letter to families Monday evening announcing plans to renegotiate compensation hikes with the school system's five unions, The Baltimore Banner and The Baltimore Sun reported.

A school spokesperson told The Banner raises are still possible, but officials are determining what's realistic within their constraints.

"This uncertain fiscal landscape requires difficult decision making," Rogers' email said, according to The Sun.

WJZ said Rogers' email also announced plans to eliminate some supervisory positions at the central office, extend a hiring freeze for non-school building roles, cut $14 million from supplies and materials and reduce division and department budgets.

The Teachers Association of Baltimore County, the educators' union, was discouraged by the news.

"To have to go back to the negotiations table, when we all thought we were set for three years, it's all very disappointing and disheartening," TABCO president Cindy Sexton told WJZ.

With federal funding uncertainty and the state trimming costs to offset its $3 billion budget deficit, Baltimore County had to cut some plans to make up for the missing funds.

That meant County Executive Kathy Klausmeier (D) couldn't fulfill the school system's lofty budget request.

WJZ and The Banner said Baltimore County Public Schools requested a 10.4% increase over last year's budget, but Klausmeier gave a 3.5% increase. The $61 million compensation package is the most expensive item in the county's budget, The Banner said.

"We worked closely with Superintendent Rogers to ensure that every student has access to a quality education, and will continue to support our hardworking educators and support staff so they can be successful inside and outside of the classroom," Klausmeier said in a statement to The Banner.

BCPS has not responded to Patch's request for a comment. We will update this story if the school system replies.

The county and the schools must approve their final budgets before fiscal year 2026 starts this July 1.

Related:

• Will Taxes Rise In Baltimore County? Klausmeier Unveils Spending Plan
• Schools Request Bigger Budget, But Baltimore County Can't Afford It
• BCPS Budget Cuts Possible, Baltimore County Faces Tough Choices: Report
• BCPS Short $20M In Budget Proposal, Job Cuts Also Planned: Reports