The Board of Education of Anne Arundel County tonight adopted Fiscal Year 2027 operating and capital budget requests to forward to County Executive Steuart Pittman for consideration as he develops the county’s overall budget for the coming year.
The Board considered 15 amendments to the operating budget recommendation put forward by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Bedell in December and ultimately adopted 14, with two being amended versions of the original proposals. The amendments can be viewed on this page. The adopted amendments added a total of $23.5 million to Dr. Bedell’s recommendation.
Eight of the amendments adopted by the Board were proposed by Dr. Bedell and reflect changes in estimated costs as well as projected state and county funding based on Governor Wes Moore’s FY2027 budget and county fiscal estimates. They include an additional increase of $10 million (bringing the total to $20 million) to help cover projected increases in employee health care expenses, an additional $2.3 million (bringing the total to $5.4 million) to cover price increases for high school student laptops and an additional increase of $1.8 million (bringing the total to $3.4 million) to cover ongoing rises in utility expenses. Combined with other cuts, the eight amendments account for an overall increase of $12.6 million to Dr. Bedell’s recommendation.
The Board also approved the following Board-sponsored amendments, which add $11 million to Dr. Bedell’s recommendation:
Add an additional 1 percent cost-of-living adjustment for all employees ($10,140,176).
Increase compensation for Temporary Support Assistants to $18.00 per hour ($510,428).
Increase the FY2027 K-5 music classes/6-12 music elective base budgets by $100,000, with funds split between the repairs to equipment and materials of instruction line items for instrument repair and replacement, prioritizing schools with the greatest need serving students with the least access to musical instruments.
Decrease the FY2027 Athletics Interscholastic Athletic Supplies base budget by $150,000 and increase the FY2027 Co-Curricular Transportation base budget by $150,000 to fund co-curricular needs including dance, drama, robotics, mock trial and Model UN.
Add $25,000 for renovation of the Southern High School greenhouse.
Add $137,481 for middle students to participate in the Drug, Violence and Awareness Expo.
The Board’s operating budget request is $139.7 million more than the current year’s budget. It asks for 147.2 additional positions, with more than 96 percent of those having daily interactions with students. In all, the amendments proposed by Dr. Bedell and approved by the Board cut 58 requested positions from Dr. Bedell’s December recommendation.
CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST
The Board made three changes to Dr. Bedell’s $231.7 million FY27 capital budget recommendation, approving a $246 million request that contains nearly $136 million in construction, study or design funding for five major capital projects:
Old Mill High School, $71.4 million (construction)
Old Mill Middle School North, $48.2 million (construction)
Ruth Parker Eason School, $4.6 million (study/design)
Riviera Beach Elementary School, $4.0 million (study/design)
Arundel Middle School, $7.6 million (study/design)
The Board approved amendments, which can be viewed on this page, that add:
$5.5 million for the completion of a team room and second gym at Southern High School.
$4.8 million for the completion of a field house at Arundel High School.
$4 million for the completion of a field house at Chesapeake High School.
The new Old Mill High School is planned for the property where the current school is located. That property will also be home to the new Center of Applied Technology North, with the new Old Mill Middle School North being constructed on the current CAT North property.
The Board’s capital budget request also includes:
$32.9 million for building systems renovations.
$6 million for prekindergarten expansion.
$6.5 million for a school bus facility and lot.
NEXT STEPS
The Board’s requests will be forwarded to County Executive Pittman, who will consider them as part of the overall Fiscal Year 2027 budget recommendation he will deliver to the County Council in May. The Council will hold public hearings before finalizing a budget by June 15.
The Board is scheduled to adopt its final FY 2027 operating and capital budgets on June 17, 2026.