How does MCPS get its budget approved?
After receiving considerable input from staff, parents, and other stakeholders, the superintendent of schools recommends an operating budget in December for the subsequent fiscal year. The budget is published and is available on the MCPS web site. In January, the Board of Education holds public hearings (at which any citizen may speak) and televised work sessions. The Board of Education approves its Operating Budget Request in February and officially submits the request to the County Executive and the County Council on March 1. The County Executive reviews the MCPS budget and makes funding recommendations to the County Council on March 15 that includes information on the affordability of the budget. Typically, the County Executive does not make recommendations for specific changes in the Board’s request. If the Board has requested more than allocated as a Spending Affordability Guideline (SAG) (see question 3), it must furnish the Council with a list of potential budget cuts, called no
