FY27 Operating Budget Updates
Return to FY27 Operating Budget webpage
February 26, 2026 – Board Approves Requested FY27 Operating Budget
At its February 26 meeting, the Board adopted its requested FY27 Operating Budget in the amount of $1,676,717,627 and directed staff to submit the budget request to the County Executive.
February 19, 2026 – Budget Work Session Held Feb. 19
The Board of Education held a budget work session February 19, during which Fee for Service, funding related to Strategic Plan Priority 5, and other Operating Budget changes were discussed. Work session presentations are available on the BoardDocs website. An archived video of the work session is available online.
February 12, 2026 – Budget Public Hearing Held Feb. 12
The Board of Education held a public hearing February 12 on the Superintendent’s Proposed FY27 Operating/Capital Budgets. An archived video of the hearing is available online. Written testimony submitted to the Board is available on BoardDocs. Complete FY27 budget testimony also can be found on BoardDocs.
February 11, 2026 – Howard County Second FY27 Residents’ Budget Hearing to be Held March 3
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball will hold his second Residents’ Budget Hearing for the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget cycle on Tuesday, March 3 at 6 p.m. The hearing will be held virtually. Residents who wish to speak at the hearing can sign up online, or can submit online testimony.
February 10, 2026 – Budget Public Hearing Held Feb. 9
The Board of Education held a public hearing February 9 on the Superintendent’s Proposed FY27 Operating/Capital Budgets. An archived video of the hearing is available online. Written testimony from February 9 that was submitted to the Board is available on BoardDocs. Complete FY27 budget testimony also can be found on BoardDocs.
February 6, 2026 – Budget Work Session Held Feb. 5
The Board of Education held a budget work session February 5, during which Fee for Service and funding related to Strategic Plan Priorities 3 and 4 were discussed. Work session presentations are available on the BoardDocs website. An archived video of the work session is available online.
January 30, 2026 – Budget Public Hearing Held Jan. 29
The Board of Education held a public hearing January 29 on the Superintendent’s Proposed FY27 Operating/Capital Budgets. An archived video of the hearing is available online. Written testimony from January 29 that was submitted to the Board is available on BoardDocs. Complete FY27 budget testimony also can be found on BoardDocs.
January 23, 2026 – Budget Public Hearing Added for Feb. 12
Board of Education added a third public hearing on the Superintendent’s Proposed FY27 Operating/Capital Budgets Public Hearing, to be held Thursday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. Registration information is available online.
January 23, 2026 – Budget Work Session Held Jan. 22
The Board of Education held a budget work session January 22, during which funding related to Strategic Plan Priorities 1 and 2 was discussed. Work session presentations are available on the BoardDocs website. An archived video of the Jan. 22 work session is available online.
January 16, 2026 – Budget Work Session Held Jan. 15
The Board of Education held a budget work session January 15, during which general budget information was presented and discussed. An archived video of the Jan. 15 work session is available online.
January 13, 2026 – Board of Education Budget Work Sessions to Begin Jan. 15
The Board of Education will hold its first public budget work session Thursday, Jan. 15 at 1 p.m. Work sessions are open to the public, however members of the public may not participate. Work sessions may be viewed live or on-demand online, and during and after each meeting on Howard County Comcast channel 95 or Verizon channel 42.
January 9, 2026 – Superintendent’s Proposed Budget Toolkit Now Available
The Proposed Budget Toolkit was created to help HCPSS stakeholders more easily understand the Superintendent’s FY 2027 Proposed Operating Budget without having to navigate the 700-page budget book.
January 8, 2026 – HCPSS Superintendent Presents Proposed FY 2027 Operating Budget
On Jan. 8, HCPSS Superintendent Bill Barnes presented his proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2026-2027 (FY 2027). In total, the Superintendent’s Proposed FY 2027 Operating Budget is $1.278 billion, which reflects an increase of $61.9 million, or 5.1% over fiscal year 2026. The proposed budget emphasizes maximizing and tactically reallocating certain existing positions and resources, prioritizing critical funding investments in high priority needs aligned to the HCPSS Strategic Plan.
November 24, 2025 – Howard County First FY27 Residents’ Budget Hearing, Dec. 18
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball will hold his first Residents’ Budget Hearing for the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget cycle on Thursday, Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. The hearing will be held virtually. Residents who wish to speak at the hearing can sign up online, or can submit online testimony.
September 30, 2025 – HCPSS Presents Fiscal Outlook for FY 2027 Operating Budget
At the Sept. 25 Board of Education meeting, HCPSS Executive Director of Budget Darin Conforti presented the outlook for the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Operating Budget. As the report recalls, recent budget cycles have presented significant challenges. While funding increases from the State and County have reached historic levels, expenditure growth has consistently outpaced revenue growth. As a result, the school system has been in the difficult position of reducing services to partially fund necessary growth.