CECIL COUNTY — County Executive Danielle Hornberger announced that her proposed FY25 budget will allocate an additional $4 million in operating funds to Cecil County Public Schools. If approved, the FY25 budget will break the county’s three year streak of state mandated minimal funding of CCPS.
In a press release posted by the county on Thursday, officials stated that the Hornberger administration is providing $97.5 million in operating funds to CCPS — an increase of nearly $9 million of what they gave CCPS in FY24 when the county provided the state mandated minimum.
Since the state mandated minimum is now Local Share and is $93.5 million instead of FY24’s Maintenance of Effort which was $88.5 million, half of Hornberger’s $9 million increase is because of state law.
The county plans to cover the $5 million state mandated increase using part of its $10 million “Lockbox” — a committed fund passed in FY24 that allows the county to pay for state mandated, education related increases without increasing taxes.
The additional $4 million operating funds Hornberger announced is what officials said is “ample funding to protect teacher positions and important student-based programs such as gifted and talented, sports, music and the arts.”
The Cecil County Board of Education passed its $270 million proposed budget in late February which outlined a request of $115 million from the county government. Of that $115 million, $93.5 was outlined by Local Share, $4.2 million was requested for the creation of 64 teaching positions to alleviate class sizes and roughly $17 million was requested to allow CCPS to operate FY25 identical to FY24 and without cuts. With the additional $4 million, CCPS still faces a nearly $13 million difference.
Hornberger’s press release called on CCPS to use $6 million from its unassigned fund balance to fund school operations, stating that not doing so is “grossly negligent.”
“To do otherwise while continuing to threaten to fire those responsible for educating our children, would not only be unconscionable but grossly negligent,” Hornberger said. “These accumulated funds should be used for the betterment of our students, families and teachers, not stockpiled for future years.”
Since Hornberger took office, the county’s fund balance has grown by over $55 million.
CCPS Superintendent Jeffrey Lawson said he was made aware of the additional funding at the same time the press release came out and that CCPS will not make a statement on the additional funding until they get more information.
Also outlined in Hornbgerger’s proposed CCPS funding plan is $5 million for “multiple school improvement projects” and an additional $2.5 million to the county’s funding of the new North East Middle and High School project — totaling a $13.3 million. Hornberger said that the additional funding is to “accelerate project completion.”
“This historic investment in our schools provides the necessary resources to deliver the education our children deserve,” Hornberger said. “However, with this increased funding, Cecil County taxpayers absolutely expect better outcomes. It is time for the Superintendent to stop the rhetoric and do his job, which is to prioritize spending, eliminate administrative bloat, and support our hardworking teachers, students, and families.”
Hornberger’s press release went on to criticize CCPS for its use of federal COVID-19 grant funds, choice not to use its fund balance and its funding of middle school sports.
Hornberger’s FY25 budget will officially be introduced to the Cecil County Council April 1, 2024.
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