Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is required to send Montgomery County Council two letters each year on State Budget Category 12, Fixed Charges.  The first letter is due March 31 and it provides the following: (1) estimate of employer contributions to the MCPS pension fund for the next five fiscal years (FYs); (2) major factors that affect the estimated pension fund contributions for the next five years; (3) the Board of Education’s current strategy in achieving a desired funding level; (4) a comparison of the current FY budgeted versus actual revenue and expenditures for the Group Insurance Funds; and (5) the projected end-of-year balance for the Group Insurance Funds.  The committee will receive an update on the status of the March 31 letter.

The second letter is due September 30 and provides an end-of-year report on Category 12 expenditures.

Each year, the County Council approves Spending Affordability Guidelines amounts for the four county agencies funded in the county’s operating budget.  These amounts are not binding.  By March 31 of each year, when an agency’s budget request is greater than the amount reflected in the Spending Affordability Guidelines, the agency must submit a letter to the County Council explaining how it would lower its budget to be within the Spending Affordability Guidelines ceiling.  This presentation will explain how the gap is lowered by both the increase in state aid for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 as well as the use of fund balance from FY 2023 used to fund the FY 2024 operating budget.

Staff will provide an update on the status of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 operating budget that was tentatively approved by the Board of Education (Board) on February 23, 2023.  In addition, the presentation will highlight the recommendations made by the County Executive regarding the Board’s FY 2024 Operating Budget on March 15, 2023.

Staff will review how Montgomery County Public Schools provides staffing for English language development students. 

Staff will review how the Office of Special Education provides staffing in Montgomery County Public Schools for students with disabilities.