Baltimore County students will be paying a nickel more for lunch when school starts in September, while secondary school students will pay an extra nickel for breakfast, too.

Elementary lunches will cost $1.50 and middle and high school lunches $1.60, maintaining the county's distinction of having the most expensive student lunches in the metropolitan area.

Its elementary school lunch prices are 50 percent higher than in Howard County or Baltimore City and 20 cents above Harford County, the next most expensive jurisdiction.

Unlike some school food service operations in the area, Baltimore County's does not receive money from the school board for operating expenses and is supposed to be self-supporting. County schools serve an average of 37,000 full lunches and 5,000 breakfasts daily.

Elementary students in Baltimore County will still be able to buy breakfast for $1, but the price for secondary students will rise from $1.10 to $1.15.

The price for adult meals of at least three courses and a beverage will also go up -- from $2.50 to $2.70.

There will also be increases in some a la carte items, which now cost $1.50.

Milk will still be 35 cents, and reduced-price lunches will remain at 40 cents.

"The price increase is basically to compensate for increases in food costs and other items," including salary increases, equipment replacement and employee training, said James Lipan, coordinator of the Office of Food and Nutrition. "It will help to cover all costs.

SCHOOL LUNCH PRICES

The table shows school lunch prices in the Baltimore metropolitan area.

... ... ... ... ... Elementary ... ... .... Secondary

Anne Arundel ... ... $1.10 ... ... ... .... $1.10

Baltimore City ... ... 1.00 ... ... ... .... 1.25

Baltimore Co. ... ... 1.50 ... ... ... .... 1.60

Carroll ... ... ... 1.15 ... ... ... .... 1.30

Harford ... ... ... 1.30 ... ... ... .... 1.40

Howard ... ... ... 1.00 ... ... ... .... 1.35