Budget

FY 2017
Board of Education’s Requested Operating Budget
Howard County Public School System
A Message from the Board of Education
Howard County has long been synonymous with excellence in public
education. Howard County schools and students rank at the highest
levels in the state and nation on many measures of achievement.
County residents recognize the importance of our schools to the quality
of life. We all share a stake in ensuring that our schools continue to
excel. The Fiscal Year 2017 budget proposal is designed to sustain our
success and strengthen teaching and learning in all Howard County
public schools.
Public school quality is intrinsically linked to the prosperity of our local
economy. Businesses, residents, and other stakeholders understand that
investments in education will secure the future for our community as
well as for our children.
The size of our investment in education must rise in proportion to our county’s growth. We expect to welcome
nearly 1,240 new students to our classrooms next year, adding significant costs for new teachers, instructional
supplies, and facilities – costs that are not included in Maintenance of Effort funding. A growing proportion of
our students face poverty and other challenges that interfere with learning and cloud prospects for lifelong
success. Strategic investments in education will give every child an opportunity to thrive, and ensure the longterm
vitality of our entire community.
Significant funding reductions and efficiency measures taken during the recent lean economic years helped to
contain costs, but have hindered our forward momentum and strained our entire system. The FY 2017 budget
must include sufficient funding to stabilize our workforce and strengthen our infrastructure if we are to sustain
the level of excellence that our community expects. We are committed to ensuring that the maximum portion
of each budget dollar directly supports instruction.
Our system’s success reflects the talent and commitment of a top-notch team of educators and staff. The
budget request includes funding for a compensation package that is commensurate with their skills and
experience, and that absorbs the impact of rapidly rising benefit costs.
The Board of Education budget request for FY 2017 totals $856.4 million and represents an increase of $80.1
million from the FY 2016 Approved Operating Budget, which is 10.3 percent. The $612.6 million requested
from the county represents an increase of 12.6 percent. This is $57.4 million over Maintenance of Effort
(MOE), which is the amount the county is required by state law to fund, based on prior-year enrollment. Sixtynine
percent of the requested increase over MOE largely supports employee compensation with $39.5 million
for the FY 2016 negotiated agreement and a FY 2017 placeholder for salary increases.
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