ROCKVILLE, Md. — The president of the Montgomery County Council says the county needs more school construction money to meet the growing number of students in the school system.
Council President Roger Berliner sent a letter to Gov. Larry Hogan asking him to add $100 million to the governor’s proposed capital budget for fiscal 2019.
“We need more from the state; we need more from the governor,” Berliner told reporters at Monday’s briefing at the County Council building. Berliner said the additional $100 million he’s asking for would be applied statewide, noting the county isn’t alone in its need for help in covering the cost of school construction. But Berliner added, “We do not get our fair share of school construction dollars.”
Berliner said while Montgomery County’s school system accounts for 18 percent of the state’s school population, it receives 12 percent of state capital funding. According to figures provided by Berliner, the school system’s enrollment is projected to grow by 2,926 students in the current academic year.
Berliner said the school system covers between 80 and 85 percent of the total construction costs of a new school. Berliner, a Democrat who is running for county executive, sent the letter to Hogan on Monday.
