Counties are the principal unit of local government in Maryland, responsible for most basic services such as police, fire, local corrections, sanitation, highways, health, and parks and recreation. In addition, counties are responsible for funding public schools, libraries, local community colleges, and the circuit courts.  According to The Department of Legislative Services’ recent Legislative Handbook,  funding local school systems and community colleges accounts for over 50% of local government expenditures.

School systems budget requests are considered by county governments alongside other funding needs.  As reported by Gazette.net, Prince George’s Schools CEO Kevin Maxwell released a $1.84 billion FY2016 budget on December 11.  According to the report,

Maxwell’s budget is a 2.5 percent increase over last year’s $1.8 billion budget. It continues the expansion of language immersion, Montessori and full-day pre-kindergarten begun last year, and includes the creation of two international high schools for English language learners, a new Early Childhood Center and a north county Saturday school alternative program for approximately 300 students. . .

For more information about Prince George’s schools budget request, see the full story from Gazette.net.

For more information about other school budget requests, see our previous posts, Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Makes $2.4B Budget Recommendation, Anne Arundel County’s Superintendent Unveils $1.1B Operating Budget.