Frederick County Council Holds Budget Hearing

A number of residents asked for more funding for the public school system.  Frederick, Md (KM) The Frederick County Council on Tuesday took testimony on the County Executive’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026.The spending plan sets aside $508-million for education which is $10.9-million over maintenance of effort. . But some people, like Frederick County Teachers Association President Missy Dirks, said the School System needs a little more. “I am here to urge you to fund the Board of Education to fullest extent possible. Not because this is my job’ but because this is the right thing to do for our students and our community,”: she said.In February, the Board of Education approved a budget request for fiscal year 2026 of $991-million. Dr. Paul Lebo, the Chief Executive Officer of Frederick County Public Schools, expressed support for the amount. “This year’s budget focuses on managing unprecedented inflation, enrollment growth, and the increased cost of living for our incredible staff,” he said. “The reality is that the requested budget is not a wish list, nor a wish to expand services. It represents the minimum needed to support our programs and our employees.”Karren Sowell, the President of the Frederick Association of School Support Employees, said without this additional funding, the School System will face some difficult times. “Without funding, FCPS will not be able to attract new staff and retain the staff that we currently have. Without funding, we may have to eliminate additional bus runs for not having drivers or even buses to put out on the roads. Add that to the fact that we need mechanics to fix those buses to get our students to school,” Sowell said.Also speaking to the Council was Board of Ed Vice President Dean Rose. “The proposed Board of Education funding you find on page 39 of the county’s budget book  is not an expense. It’s an investment in our community’s future,” he said.The County Council is scheduled to hold all-day budget workshops Wednesday through Friday of this week.The spending plan proposed by the County Executive totals $1.02 billion and it keeps the property tax rate a $1.11 per $100 of assessed value.By Kevin McManus