Among the priorities newly included in the Howard County Public School System’s fiscal 2026 budget request is more than $1 million to pay for full-time athletic trainers at all 13 high schools.

Students and parents have been pushing for full-time trainers at schools for years. One parent recently brought a lawsuit against the district after their child became quadriplegic following basketball practice at school.

On Feb. 4, the Howard County Board of Education approved a budget request for the upcoming fiscal year totaling $1.257 billion. The budget adds priorities to Superintendent Bill Barnes’ initial $1.219 billion spending plan while accounting for the impact of Gov. Wes Moore’s proposed budget as the state grapples with cuts to address a ballooning deficit.

The budget request for fiscal 2026, which begins July 1, was passed unanimously, 6-0. Jen Mallo, District 4 board member, was absent.

“While the board recognizes the county’s fiscal capacity to fully fund the requested budget is unlikely, it is important for all stakeholders, and our county partners, to understand the gaps that persist between the priorities of the community and the funding available to the school system,” Board Chair Jolene Mosley said in a news release.

The board adopted about 20 amendments during budget deliberations on Feb. 27 to include special education staff, which the Howard County Association of Supervisors and Administrators had been advocating for, literacy and math coaches, human resources staff and others.

During budget deliberations, board members pushed to ask what’s needed by the school system, despite a low likelihood all the funding would be received, which has raised concerns when done in previous years.

“I mean, I would want to bring back everything we had in the past, but we can’t afford it,” Jacky McCoy, an at-large board member, said during budget deliberations. “And so if we are willing to push forward with asking for what we need, let’s put it all on the table, and then we’re going to have to go through the horrible situation of picking and choosing who’s going to be let down.”

Some tough conversations will need to be had, Mosley said.

Meg Ricks, District 1 board member, explained that her thinking is “we can’t be accused of not asking if we ask.” She’d rather ask for more money for certain things and then eliminate them if the funding isn’t granted, she said during deliberations.

Before the meeting, County Executive Calvin Ball said he hoped the board would recognize the fiscal challenges faced by the county, state and federal governments and make “responsible choices” so community members could see a realistic budget.

“I am hopeful that we can work together in a collaborative fashion toward a budget that makes investments in our school system as well as in the other initiatives surrounding the public safety and quality of life in Howard County,” Ball said.

The approved budget request seeks $868 million in recurring revenue from the county, $107 million more than last year’s budget, according to the release. State revenues in the budget increased by $18.6 million.

There are several “financial challenges” posed by decisions at the federal level and from the state as it works to address the nearly $3 billion budget gap, Ball said, shifting some new costs to the county.

“There will be cuts to the county and our services, and so we will have an increase of things that we have to spend, that we have to purchase and be responsible for, while there will be a decrease in revenue,” he said.

Also approved Tuesday was the Fiscal Year 2026 Capital Budget of $100.64 million, along with the Fiscal Year 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Program Request and the Fiscal Year 2026-2035 Long-Range Master Plan.

The approved operating budget proposal will be sent to Ball, who will review the request as part of his proposed budget, which he is scheduled to submit to the County Council for approval in April. Once County Council adopts a budget, the Board of Education will make adjustments as needed based on the funding allocated and approve a final operating and capital budget.

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