FY2027 Budget
The budget adopted by the Washington County Board of Education is a financial plan (estimate), normally for a fiscal year (July 1–June 30), that matches all planned revenues with planned expenditures of the school system. The FY2027 budget is for the period from July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027.
BUDGET PRIORITIES FY2027
The Board of Education adopted its budget priorities for FY2027. The priorities align with the four priorities of WCPS' strategic plan, Your Journey, Our Commitment. They include:
- CULTURE, SAFETY, AND WELLNESS
WCPS will create a safe, engaging, and supportive learning environment for each student and staff member. - STUDENT SUCCESS
WCPS will engage each student in authentic, rigorous learning experiences to prepare them with the skills, knowledge, and habits to maximize student success. - ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY
WCPS will identify and address barriers that impact student learning and success. - COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
WCPS will partner with caregivers and the community to develop strong and meaningful connections, creating opportunities for each stakeholder to feel valued, heard, and be actively engaged in support of student success.
DOCUMENTS
APPROVED FY2027 GENERAL FUND BUDGET CALENDAR
|
DATE |
DELIVERABLE |
RESPONSBILE |
|---|---|---|
| AUGUST 2025 | ||
| 8/12/25 | Review and forward FY2027 Budget Calendar to full BOE | Finance Comm |
| 8/19/25 | BOE Business Meeting: Adopt FY2027 Budget Calendar |
BOE |
| 8/29/25 | Determine preliminary estimate of budget increase target | Supt. & COO |
| SEPTEMBER 2025 | ||
| 9/2/25 | BOE Work Session: FY2027 Budget Priorities |
BOE |
| 9/16/25 | Approval FY2027 Budget Priorities | BOE |
| 9/19/25 | Submit any school-specific requests to Directors and Associate Superintendent | Principals |
| 9/22/25 | Provide senior management with preliminary budget parameters | Supt. |
| OCTOBER 2025 | ||
| 10/16/25 | Submit prioritized list of needs with costs (including school initiatives and any mandatory FY2027 Master Plan initiatives) and list of reductions and redeployments to Superintendent and Finance | CAB |
| 10/21–24/25 | Organize prioritized additions, reductions, and redeployments for Superintendent | Finance Staff |
| 10/30/25 | Publish final September 30, 2025, enrollment | Student Services |
| NOVEMBER 2025 | ||
| 11/4/25 | Superintendent’s Cabinet Budget Discussion | Supt. and CAB |
| 11/10–26/25 | Prepare preliminary draft of the Superintendent’s Draft FY2027 Budget for internal discussion (with State and local estimate) | Finance Staff |
| DECEMBER 2025 | ||
| 12/2/25 | Superintendent’s Cabinet Budget Discussion | Supt. and CAB |
| JANUARY 2026 | ||
| 1/16/26 | Receive preliminary FY2027 State Aid calculation from MSDE (date tentative) | Finance Staff |
| 1/20/26 | BOE Work Session: Superintendent’s FY2027 Draft Budget |
BOE |
| 1/20–23/26 | Incorporate state revenue estimates into budget draft and determine excess or shortfall | Finance Staff |
| 1/23/26 | Notify County Administrator and County Chief Financial Officer of preliminary financial request | COO and Supt. |
| FEBRUARY 2026 | ||
| Feb-TBD (b) | BOE to present Draft Budget for discussion with BOCC (to be confirmed with the BOCC) | BOE and BOCC |
| 2/3/26 | BOE Work Session: Superintendent’s FY2027 Recommended Budget |
BOE |
| 2/17/26 | Adopt Board’s FY2027 Draft Budget for Public Hearing | BOE |
| 2/18/26 | Send updated Board of Education’s FY2027 Draft Budget to the BARC | Finance Staff |
| 2/20/26 | Make copies of Board’s FY2027 Draft Budget available to the public | Finance Staff and PIO |
| 2/23/26 (a) | Discuss Board’s FY2027 Draft Budget and begin developing recommendations to BOE (Snow Date 2/25/26) | BARC |
| MARCH 2026 | ||
| 3/4/26 (a) | Discuss Board’s FY2027 Draft Budget and finalize recommendation to BOE (Snow Date 3/5/26) | BARC |
| 3/17/26 | Present recommendations on Board’s FY2027 Draft Budget to BOE (6:30 PM in Board Auditorium) (Snow Date 03/24/26) | BARC |
| 3/17/26 | Public Hearing – Board of Education’s FY2027 Draft Budget (Snow Date 03/24/26) | BOE |
| APRIL 2026 | ||
| 4/14/26 | Adopt Board Approved FY2027 Budget to present to the BOCC | BOE |
| 4/17/26 | Provide copies of Board Approved FY2027 Budget to the BOCC, make copies available for public review, and post on WCPS Website | Finance Staff & PIO |
| 4/17/26 | Receive Final FY2027 State Aid Report (tentative) | Finance |
| 4/24/26 | Revise revenue projections for final iteration of State Aid Report | Finance Staff |
| MAY – JULY 2026 | ||
| TBD (c) | Other Meetings as Deemed Necessary | Varies |
(a) These dates are approximate, subject to the availability of BARC members.
(b) These dates are approximate, subject to availability of the Board of County Commissioners.
(c) These steps will be necessary only if the Commissioners do not fully fund the Board’s budget request or if the final State appropriation is significantly different from preliminary estimates for FY2027.
BARC: Budget Advocacy and Review Comm
BOCC: Board of County Commissioners
BOE: Board of Education
CAB: Superintendent’s Cabinet
COO: Chief Operating Officer
MSDE: Maryland State Dept. of Education
PIO: Public Information Office
SUPT: Superintendent