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FCPS Budgets
Capital Budget: School Construction Fund
The school system’s capital budget funds the construction of new school facilities and provides for renovations, additions, roofing and barrier-free projects, technology equalization and the purchase and/or relocation of portable classrooms for existing facilities. For more information about funding for school construction and the related process, see the capital improvement program section.
Operating Budget: Programs, Services & Salaries
Maryland boards of education have no taxing authority, so our public school systems depend on state and local governments for revenue. In Frederick County, the state typically provides about 46% of the school system’s annual operating budget funds and the County Commissioners about 50%. State funding is established primarily during the annual January-April legislative session of the General Assembly, and funds are administered through the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). The remaining 4% comes from the federal government, out-of-district tuition, user fees and interest income.
To comply with Maryland’s 2002 Bridge to Excellence legislation and the mandates of the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), FCPS has a five-year Master Plan describing how we will allocate resources to meet performance standards. The general operating fund for FCPS aligns with the Master Plan and covers the cost of providing instruction and supporting day-to-day activities in the schools—instructional materials and supplies, programs and services, salaries, transportation and technology. The operating budget also includes separate printing service, food service and self insurance funds.
On the local level, in December the FCPS superintendent and staff recommend to the Board of Education an operating budget for the coming fiscal year. The proposal includes base budget increases necessary to maintain current programs, services and contracts for a growing enrollment and employee base and to accommodate the rising costs of health insurance, fuel and other utilities. It also outlines strategic improvements to provide the requisite quality and scope of services for students.
The Board reviews the proposal, takes it to public hearing in February, and then reevaluates and modifies it accordingly before forwarding it to the County Commissioners by March 1. The Commissioners subsequently hold a second public hearing, hear appeals from the Board of Education, and by early June determine their allocation to public education for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
Get answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the operating budget and view budgets for specific fiscal years from the links on the left.
See the Publications section of this website for the FCPS annual financial reports. For more detailed financial information, contact the FCPS Office of the Assistant Director of Fiscal Services, 191 South East Street, Frederick, MD 21701, 301-644-5043.
updated 3-17-09 Last Modified on June 21, 2007
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