BOARD SETS $1.78 BILLION OPERATING BUDGET, $196.5 MILLION CAPITAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026

The Board of Education of Anne Arundel County unanimously approved a $1.78 billion operating budget for Fiscal Year 2026. This budget prioritizes special education, employee compensation, multilingual learners, and early literacy, aligning with the goals of the Board and Superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell.

The Board adopted the budget without changes from the version approved by the County Council on June 13, which had added two special education teachers and funding for National Board Certified school counselors to receive an additional $10,000 in annual compensation.

This approved budget marks a $93.2 million increase over the current year, adding 65 positions. These include 30 in special education, 24.9 for expanding community schools under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, 10 English Language Development teachers, and two new bilingual facilitators. The budget also converts six existing bilingual facilitator positions from 10-month to 12-month schedules to better support families.

Board of Education President Robert Silkworth expressed gratitude for the collaboration between Dr. Bedell, County Executive Pittman, and the County Council, noting that this partnership benefits students and employees.

The operating budget also funds staffing for four new prekindergarten classrooms, a new learning management system, the continuation of the middle school athletics program, and a pilot program for non-invasive weapons detection systems.

**Employee Compensation**

The budget includes $58.2 million for employee compensation and benefits. Pending negotiations, this is sufficient for a step or step equivalent for all eligible employees, a 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment, and nearly $5.3 million in targeted increases for each employee bargaining unit.

The Board approved agreements with the Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County and AFSCME Local 1693, both including funding for step and COLA increases. The AFSCME agreement raises compensation for all Unit III employees to at least $18 per hour.

Terms of Employment for non-represented employees, including step equivalent increases and COLAs, were also approved. Agreements are still pending with the Association of Educational Leaders and the Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Association of Anne Arundel County.

**Capital Budget**

The Board also unanimously approved the $196.5 million capital budget passed by the County Council on June 13. This includes nearly $120 million for major capital projects for the final three schools in the Old Mill Master Plan:

* Center of Applied Technology North: $13.0 million

* Old Mill High School: $77.1 million

* Old Mill Middle School North: $29.7 million

The new Old Mill High School will be on the current school's property, which will also house the new Center of Applied Technology North. The new Old Mill Middle School North will be built on the current CAT North property.

The Board’s capital budget request also includes:

* $34.7 million for building systems renovations.

* $8 million to reduce the maintenance backlog.

* $5 million for kindergarten and prekindergarten additions.

* $4.6 million for a new school bus facility and lot.

* $4.1 million for athletic stadium improvements.

* $2 million for security-related upgrades.

Both the operating and capital budgets will take effect on July 1, 2025.

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