WASHINGTON – Despite a promised infusion of cash for Maryland schools, area school systems would actually lose money under Gov. Larry Hogan’s proposed state budget.
Hogan introduced his $16.1 billion spending plan this week. He says the $6.1 billion allotted for education includes record funding for K-12 spending in the state. But leaders in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties say the funding formula, called the geographic education index, would be cut by 50 percent.
Sen. Jim Rosapepe was unimpressed by Hogan’s statement about record-setting education funding.
‘Well, a record means a little bit more than last year. When you have more students and you have more costs, it’s in effect a cut,” Rosapepe says.
Hogan would add $45.3 million to education spending, but the reduction to the funding formula tied to cost of living in some counties comes to about $132 million.
In Montgomery County, Dana Tofig, spokesman for Montgomery County Schools, says the reduction means the county will get half of the expected $35 million GCEI formula. In an email to WTOP, Tofig explains that the $17 million reduction is equivalent to 250 teacher positions, or 400 support staff positions such as bus drivers and building maintenance staff.
Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker says schools in his county would lose $20 million dollars in GCEI funds.
“That’s just the bare minimum to get us the improvements we need in our school system,” Baker told WTOP.
Baker says the GCEI, which was designed to address the higher cost of living in some counties, “keeps us somewhat competitive” in attracting and retaining the best teachers and advancing education programs. Without it, Baker says, maintaining the momentum of school improvement becomes far more challenging.
Other local budget concerns
Hogan’s budget includes $30 million for Prince George’s Hospital.
“That’s a big deal,” says Baker.
Rosapepe, whose district is in Prince George’s County, agrees.
“The good news is that (Hogan) put in the money for Prince George’s Hospital and he didn’t take out the funding for the Purple Line.”
Hogan addressed the Purple Line in his briefing to reporters Thursday. Hogan’s budget secretary David Brinkley, a former lawmaker from Frederick County, told reporters the Purple Line and Baltimore’s Red Line will be subject to review.
“He has made no commitment to the Purple Line, so that’s a big question mark,” Rosapepe says.
Hogan campaigned on a platform of tax relief, and repeated that promise when he was sworn in, pledging to lead a state that “takes government off our backs and out of our pockets.”
But the tax rollbacks he’d talked about on the campaign trail aren’t in the budget he submitted this week. Instead, Hogan said something he’s repeated often; that once spending is under control, he’d roll back tax increases. Hogan told reporters his tax relief package will be rolled out in the next few weeks.
WTOP’s Kate Ryan contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter and on Facebook.
