Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Superintendent Jack Smith announced the recommended $2.8 billion operating budget for Fiscal Year 2021. This is a recommended increase of 4.5% from FY 2020.

In each county, a three-set process develops school funding levels. The School Board superintendent and staff develop a preliminary request, the Board of Education refines it and submits it to the county, and the county must weigh that request against other agency requests and the available resources to commit. State mandated funding for schools and other elements in the county budget play a role in this local process, as well.

From MCPS Budget in Brief report, as reported in Montgomery Community Media:

The Superintendent’s Recommended FY 2021 Operating Budget totals $2,801,694,031 for MCPS.  This budget recommendation includes an increase of $121,119,258 including 562.417 Full-time Equivalent (FTE) positions compared to the current FY 2020 Operating Budget. This will fund services for a growing number of students, the costs of operating the school system, and our strategic key bodies of work. Part of this increase is offset by savings of $5,204,000 generated by efficiencies and reductions. The increase of $121,119,258 represents a 4.5 percent increase in the operating budget compared to FY 2020. In addition, this budget assumes that the Montgomery County Council will continue to fund $27,200,000 from the county’s Consolidated Other Post-employment Benefits Trust Fund to cover a portion of our retiree health benefits costs.

MCPS is committed to an All Means All approach for our students’ success. While many of our students achieve at the highest levels, not all have had the full access, opportunities, and resources needed to meet their potential. We are committed to addressing disparities in student outcomes by closing gaps in opportunity and achievement for all students.

The Board will take action on the recommended budget on February 10, 2020.