SMCPS says $8.7 million recurring needed as state aid falls short for Blueprint pay increases

Saint Mary’s County Public Schools officials told residents at a Pillar 2 town hall that implementing Blueprint-mandated pay increases will require new local revenue.

"An $8,700,000 reduction in other budget lines, it's not feasible to meet this mandate and continue with the instructional programs and extracurricular activities that our students expect and deserve," Tammy McCourt, assistant superintendent of fiscal services, said as she described the district’s funding gap. McCourt said the district is seeking full funding support from the County Commissioners to cover recurring costs tied to the negotiated career-ladder agreement and other Blueprint-related compensation increases.

McCourt recounted prior phases of compensation changes, noting the statute required a 10 percent increase in teacher pay between 2019 and 2024 and said the district met those targets. She explained Maryland’s wealth-equalization formula: state support is "wealth equalized," so as a county’s measured wealth increases, state aid proportionally declines, and districts must provide a local share. On bonuses tied to National Board Certification, McCourt said roughly half of the $10,000 bonus is expected from state sources and half from local funding.

McCourt said initial state projections when the Blueprint passed included a projected $5 million increase for Saint Mary’s County in 2025, but that the first look at FY25 state aid showed a 0 percent increase — a mismatch that contributes to the shortfall. She listed other compensation elements referenced in the statute, including targeted increases for lead or distinguished teachers and principals, though some category figures were not read cleanly during the presentation and require confirmation in the Board packet or statute text.

What happens next: Panelists said they will present the negotiated agreement and budget implications to the Board of Education on March 20 and continue to work with county officials on local funding. McCourt’s figures frame the district’s request to local government and set the budget issues that county commissioners and the Board will consider during upcoming fiscal planning.

Sources: Remarks at the St. Mary’s County Public Schools Pillar 2 town hall by Tammy McCourt (Assistant Superintendent of Fiscal Services) and panel discussion at the Forest Center.