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How to Participate in the Operating Budget Process

Preparing the school system's operating budget is virtually a year-round process. Each fall, school system managers begin to compile budget requests for the next fiscal year. These preliminary requests are reviewed and adjusted by supervisors. Requests are submitted to the school system's Budget Office and are reviewed by the Superintendent of Schools and Associate Superintendents. After careful consideration, the Superintendent submits a proposed budget to the Board of Education in January.

The Board holds public hearings and work sessions then submits a budget request to the County Executive in March. The Executive may recommend reductions to the education request before submitting a proposed budget to the County Council in April.

The County Council holds hearings and makes changes to the Executive's budget. The Council may reduce any portion of the Executive's budget and may also restore funding to the school system (up to the level originally requested by the Board of Education). Additional Board of Education meetings may be held during the latter part of the Council's budget review process to respond to last minute budget issues.

The Council approves the county budget in late May and the Board of Education adopts the detailed school system budget by June 1.

School System Public Meeting Schedule

As noted above, the school system holds public hearings and work sessions during the budget process. The public is encouraged to attend the meetings and may provide written and/or verbal testimony at public hearings.

Submitting Comments and Testimony to the School System

You may submit written comments for consideration during the school system's budget preparation process. Comments on a particular service area may also be addressed to members of the Superintendent's staff or individual program managers. Contact information:

10910 Route 108
Ellicott City, MD 21042
Fax: 410-313-6833

General budget comments that do not require an individual response may be submitted via email. Submissions will be read and forwarded to the Board and appropriate school system officials.

Participating in the County Government Budget Process

The county government also holds public hearings and work sessions during the budget process:

• County Executive's initial public meeting (on the entire county budget) in early December
• County Executive presents budget in early April
• County Council's public hearing on the education budget in April/May
• County Council's public work sessions on the education budget in April/May

You may submit comments during the county government's review of the school system budget.

3430 Court House Drive
Ellicott City, MD 21043
Fax: 410-313-2013 (County Executive)
Fax: 410-313-3297 (County Council)
Email addresses for County officials can be found on the County government's website: www.co.ho.md.us

Other Ways to Participate

Parent-teacher organizations, advisory committees, student organizations, school administrators, school-based management groups, and other interested parties play an important role in the budget process.

School principals and school-based management committees review the needs of individual schools and submit their input to the Superintendent and other school system managers. Input from schools is an important consideration when program managers prepare their budget requests. Individuals who participate in school-based management committees are helping to shape the budget at its initial stages.

Local PTAs and the county-wide PTA Council are also involved in the budget process. Local PTAs often submit testimony during the budget process. The PTA Council performs a formal review of the Superintendent's budget and provides comments to the Board of Education. PTAs are also participate during the County government's budget review and approval process. Similarly, the Citizen's Advisory Committee to the Board of Education reviews and comments on the budget. Other advisory and advocacy groups are also active in the budget process.

For More Information

Residents who need more information on the school system budget may contact:

410-313-6708 - HCPSS Budget Office
410-313-6682 - HCPSS Public Information Office

Copies of the budget summary and complete budget book are available from the Public Information Office.

For more information on the County government's budget process contact these Howard County government offices:

410-313-2077 - Howard County Government Budget Office
410-313-2022 - Howard County Government Public Information Office
410-313-2001 - Howard County Government County Council Office