The Howard County Education Association wrote a letter to the Board of Education last week, giving a historical account of county funding to the school system’s yearly operating budget, including that the county’s contribution has steadily declined since 2015.
“Our county’s wealth is one that has grown because of our public school system, and not in spite of it,” Colleen Morris, the union’s president, wrote in a Feb. 27 letter addressed to school board Chairwoman Mavis Ellis and the entire board.
Morris addressed a Feb. 13 letter from County Executive Calvin Ball’s office “regarding the bleak financial outlook for Howard County.”
Less than an hour before the Feb. 13 vote, Ball sent the letter to the school board, saying, “Tough decisions would be required that could result in deep cuts to county services or tax increases” to fully fund the school system’s budget.
Ball declined to comment on the union’s letter and, through his spokesman, said, “The county executive is committed to an inclusive budget process that considers all perspectives, and he will take input from the HCEA into consideration like all suggestions and advocacy received regarding the budget.”
The union’s letter asks for the school board to “consider the following facts,” which include county school funding trends, per-pupil spending, county government fiscal trends and taxable income figures, when advocating for funding.
“As advocates for school system funding, we want you to have an accurate picture of the county historical contributions to school system revenues and an accurate picture of its fiscal outlook,” the letter states.
“The county government must now do its part by meeting the expectations of our community, and finding the recurring revenue needed to deliver the services that the parents and students demand.”
While the letter addresses that the school system’s budget is the largest county expense, education funding from the county “has slowed” when compared with contributions to other county departments’ and agencies’ yearly spending plans.
In the past decade, county education spending increased by 33%, from $457.5 million to $607.2 million, while Economic Development Authority spending increased the most, by 184%, or $1.3 million to $3.7 million.
The letter also states, in last year’s budget cycle, the county’s funding of the school system’s operating budget was the lowest it’s been in a decade.
Last year the county funded 67.52% of the budget, whereas in fiscal 2009 the county funded 69.21%. In the past decade, the county has funded between 68.38% and 70.09% of the school system’s overall operating budget.
“The county claims that the school system’s budget request is unaffordable; however, the county taxable income continues to rise compared to the rest of the state,” the union letter states.
In fiscal 2017, Howard County was ranked third in net taxable income growth, coming behind Talbot and Garrett counties, according to the state’s Department of Legislative Services.
The union is “concerned" that a lack of recurring revenue increases is affecting the school system’s ability to attract and retain quality educators and hinders its ability to provide the continued level of services “our community expects and our students deserve,” the letter states.
“Howard County prides itself, and every resident benefit from, the quality education that is provided to our students.”
Ellis said the board “was very appreciative” of the union’s letter, “especially with its historical account of county funding to the school system.”
As the budget process continues with more work sessions and public hearings at both the school and county levels, the school “board will definitely take that letter into consideration,” she said.
Ball will submit his proposed county budget, including education spending, to the County Council next month. He is scheduled to have a budget presentation at 6:30 p.m. April 20.
The County Council will then hold public hearings and work sessions, potentially making revisions to Ball’s proposal. If Ball decreases the school board’s proposal, the council can only increase school funding up to the original request.
School board members will attend the county public hearings to advocate for funding their proposed operating budget while recognizing the challenges the county and state face in fully funding the request, Ellis said.
The council is scheduled to adopt the countywide budget May 27. The school board is expected to adopt its final operating budget May 28.