Baltimore County educators seek raises
County executive says proposed budget is already too large
Baltimore County Public Schools educator Lloyd Allen came to the school system’s board of education meeting Tuesday night with two empty egg cartons.
The average price of eggs has skyrocketed amid avian flu-related shortages, making Allen’s cartons a visual and financial reminder of rising inflation. And yet, Allen pointed out, Superintendent Darryl L. Williams’ budget proposal for fiscal year 2024 does not include a cost of living adjustment, or COLA, for staff. The omission left Allen “quite surprised.”
Teachers Association of Baltimore County President Cindy Sexton echoed Allen’s public comment and pointed out other Maryland counties, such as Anne Arundel and Prince George, that already have thought to provide COLAs for staff.
“We will continue to lose our educators with no COLA,” Sexton said.
The $2.59 billion budget proposal, which also has prompted outcry from supporters of gifted and talented programming, includes about $2.13 billion for operating expenses, an increase of $58 million —2.8% — from fiscal year 2023, which ends June 30.
The county school board will vote Feb. 28 on the proposed budget before it goes to the county executive.
The 2023 adjusted budget includes $33.4 million that the Baltimore County Council gave the school system as a supplement in November. The 2024 proposed budget aims to incorporate this adjustment, which went toward employee cost of living raises but does not include updated COLAs.
Additionally, the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, legislation providing $3.8 billion to the state’s school systems over the next decade, is set to make all teacher salaries at least $60,000 by 2026. Raises attached to the Blueprint are separate from step increases, which unionized employees negotiate.
The school system’s budget proposal comes as Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. continues to express dissatisfaction with the size of the budget and to push for cuts. Following Williams’ budget presentation Jan. 10, Olszewski said in a statement that it “does not reflect budget constraints.”
Williams responded to Olszewski in a letter Monday, the same day the superintendent announced he will not seek an extension when his contract ends June 30, writing that he met with the county executive Jan. 5 to go over the proposed budget and share feedback before the public unveiling of the budget. Williams said in the letter that Olszewski didn’t raise such concerns in their meeting.
“Our team was surprised to learn through media instead of during our meeting or in a follow-up message that the FY24 operating budget has been characterized as ‘unrealistic,’ ” Williams wrote. “Baltimore County Public Schools remains appreciative of your support and would like to convene another meeting to review the components of the budget and reach shared understanding of the path forward for the FY24 budget in light of limited resources. BCPS stands ready to prioritize a high performing workforce to meet the needs of all students.”
Olszewski responded to Monday’s letter with a statement that his administration has provided public education “more funding than any other administration in county history” but that “the initial BCPS budget proposal is far beyond any increase in [maintenance of effort] ever provided.”
Maryland law states that counties can add to school system budgets but cannot trim from them without legislative approval, which is referred to as maintenance of effort. In 2022, the General Assembly lowered Baltimore County’s share of funding for the school system by roughly $40 million. That funding reduction gives this year’s budget proposal the appearance of asking for tens of millions more but actually represents a 3.9% increase over last year’s budget, Williams’ budget proposal states.
Williams’ proposal did identify $24 million in cost reductions, though the system only needed to reduce costs by $16 million as part of a commitment to the county.