Montgomery Schools Superintendent Proposes Budget Amendments

ROCKVILLE, MD — Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Jack Smith on Monday outlined recommended amendments to the FY 2020’s Capital Budget and the 2019-2024 Capital Improvements Program (CIP).

The amendments include improvements to school security systems, planning funds for three elementary schools, technology and education facility expansions, athletic field maintenance, and funding for strategic growth management research. Smith also recommended that a previously approved elementary school project be removed from the CIP.

The proposed fiscal budget and amendments to the CIP – which totals $1.830 billion – is $86.6 million more than the approved CIP, according to the county's Board of Education. While this is a historically large CIP, Smith thinks the school system needs more.

“This CIP provides the highest level of capital funding in Montgomery County public schools’ history. And – I will say it bluntly – it’s not enough," Smith said. "It’s a very big budget. It’s not enough. And it’s something we need to continue to talk about and work on as we think about the infrastructure and facility and programmatic needs of our students.”

Montgomery County approves the CIP on a biennial, rather than on an annual, basis. The county executive and City Council approve a six-year CIP on each odd-numbered fiscal year. During even-numbered fiscal years, officials only consider necessary amendments in the second year of the six-year CIP, according to the county’s Board of Education.

Funding for the CIP primarily comes from the following types of revenue sources: county General Obligation (GO) bonds, current revenue, state aid, and Recordation and School Impact taxes.

Check back later for more details.

Image via Shutterstock

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