FY25 General Fund Operating Budget
BOE Adopts
Board of Education Finalizes
FY2025 General Fund Operating Budget
The Washington County Board of Education (WCBOE) has finalized its FY2025 General Fund Operating Budget for the period from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
The WCBOE had to adjust the budget after the Washington County Board of County Commissioners allocated approximately $8.6 million less to WCPS than requested by the WCBOE.
The adjustments included:
- Lowering the amount of additional funding to enhance WCPS staff salaries.
- Reducing the contribution to the Other Post-Employment Benefits Fund (OPEB).
The OPEB supports obligated benefits to previous and current employees related to retiree healthcare should WCPS ever cease to exist in its current form.
FY2025 BUDGET TIMELINE
JANUARY 16, 2024:
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Superintendent Presents Draft FY2025 Budget
- Draft budget totaled $360.3 million, a 5.91% increase over the FY2024 General Operating Fund Budget
- $16.72 million in identified needs did not make the Superintendent's Draft Budget
- Required increases totaled $7.83 million
- Recommended increases:
– WCPS staff salary adjustments: $10.6 million
– Safety, health, and behavior supports: $1.67 million
FEBRUARY 6, 2024:
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Draft General Fund Operating Budget Revised Due to Reduced State Funding
The Superintendent had to reduce the Draft General Fund Operating Budget by $2.9 million due to lower than anticipated State funding. This change was a result of growing wealth in Washington County impacting the State funding formula.
Reductions included:
- Identifying alternative sources of funding for necessary student support programs, such as the Reading Tutor Apprenticeship and software used to prepare students for assessments
- Eliminating elementary classes at the Academy of Blended Learning Education (ABLE)
- Delaying the transition of 44 school-based staff from 10- and 11-month to 12-month positions
- Reducing the number of new staff positions, including those to support special education programs as well as safety, security, and mental health in schools
FEBRUARY 20, 2024:
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Board of Education Adopts Superintendent's Recommended FY2025 Budget as its Draft General Fund Budget
Operating expenditures totaled $357,383,838.
MAY 14, 2024:
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Board of Education Hosts Public Hearing on the Draft FY2025 Budget
Community stakeholders provided comments on the Draft FY2025 General Fund Operating Budget.
MARCH 19, 2024:
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Board of Education Approves FY2025 General Fund Operating Budget
Approved budget totaled $356.7 million and addressed the Board's budget priorities.
- Salary and Compensation to Attract and Retain Staff: Salaries and benefits offered to WCPS staff must remain competitive so the best teachers, education support personnel, and administrators can be employed to serve our students.
- Safety and Security, Mental Health, and Behavioral Supports: Schools must be safe and secure learning environments. By providing students with the mental health and behavioral supports they need, WCPS can address behavior disruptions during the school day and allow all students to focus on learning.
- Meeting the Requirements of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future: The Blueprint for Maryland's Future is a state law designed to elevate Maryland's public education system. The Blueprint includes annual requirements all school districts must meet.
- Combating Inflation: Like individuals and families, WCPS must address inflation and the rising cost of goods and services.
MAY 15, 2024:
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Washington County Board of County Commissioners Hosts Public Hearing on the County's Budget, Including Allocation to WCPS
Superintendent of Schools advocates for funding requested by the WCBOE.
MAY 21, 2024:
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Washington County Board of County Commissioners Approves County Budget
The approved county budget provided $110,172,840 to WCPS, which was $8,564,520 less than requested.
JUNE 4, 2024:
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Board of Education Reviews Options to Balance the FY2025 Budget
- Reducing the amount of additional funding for WCPS staff salary increases by $3,681,946. This results in a minimum salary increase of 3% for all WCPS staff in FY2025 (previously a minimum salary increase of 5%).
- Reducing the proposed contribution to the Other Post-Employment Benefits Fund (OPEB) by $4,840,485. The OPEB supports commitments made by the Board to its previous and current employees related to retiree healthcare should WCPS ever cease to exist. This is a required fund as determined by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and Governmental Accounting Standards Board rule.