Operating Budget
Carroll County Public Schools, like many organizations across the country, has been affected by the COVID pandemic. To meet the challenges that have arisen related to staffing shortages and student learning loss, CCPS has been, and will continue to, identify and analyze current and proposed expenditures to address and meet these challenges.
Primer
Funds
The school system finances are budgeted and accounted for through a number of distinct sets of accounts called funds.
General / Operating: Most day-to-day expenditures and basic functions of the school system, including salaries, materials, supplies, etc., are accounted for in this fund. Revenues from this fund are primarily provided by county, state, and federal revenues. Additional sources of revenue in this fund include non-governmental grants, interest, and certain fees.
Student Activity: Expenditures and revenues related to specific student groups at individual schools.
Food Service: Expenditures and revenues related to school cafeteria operations.
Capital Improvement Program: Expenditures and revenues related to larger construction or other capital improvement projects. Funding is provided through county and state governments.
Debt Service: This fund specifically tracks outstanding debt issued by the county government for school system capital improvement projects, including interest and principal.
Other Post-Employment Benefits: This fund accumulates resources for post-employment health benefits.
Operating Fund Budgeted Revenues
Operating Fund Budgeted Expenditures
State Department of Education proscribes that the operating fund budget and financial reporting be based on specific categories of expenditures.
| Category (with allocated fixed charges) | Budget | % of Total |
| Instruction | ||
| Instructional Salaries & Wages | 246,966,633 | 51.6 |
|
38,563,122 | 8.1 |
|
69,431,749 | 14.5 |
|
9,818,371 | 2.1 |
|
6,896,062 | 1.4 |
| Total Instruction | 371,675,937 | 77.7 |
| Administration | 9,490,325 |
2.0 |
| Student Personnel Services | 3,000,562 | 0.6 |
| Student Health Services | 5,945,920 | 1.3 |
| Student Transportation | 29,914,951 | 6.3 |
| Operation of Plant | 39,908,712 | 8.3 |
| Maintenance of Plant | 9,769,622 | 2.0 |
| Food Services | 0.0 | |
| Community Services | 2,065,147 | 0.4 |
| Capital Outlay | 6,503,822 | 1.4 |
| Total Operating Budget | $478,274,998 | 100.0 |
Schedule
The dates for public presentation, review, and input to the Operating Budget for Carroll County Public Schools System for the 2026-2027 school year are listed below:
FY 2027 Operating Budget discussions occurred during the October 8, November 12, and December 10, 2025 Board of Education meetings. Additionally, Board Work Sessions FY 2027 Operating Budget were held on November 24 and December 17, 2025.
January 14, 2026 4:00 PM Board Room, 125 North Court Street, Westminster
Presentation of the Superintendent’s Proposed FY 2027 Operating Budget during regular January Board of Education meeting.
January 29, 2026 1:00 PM Board Room, 125 North Court Street, Westminster
Board of Education Work Session on the Proposed FY 2027 Operating Budget.
Board of Education Public Hearing on the Proposed FY 2027 Operating Budget after Board of Education Work Session.
February 11, 2026 4:00 PM Board Room, 125 North Court Street, Westminster
Board of Education Approval of its proposed FY 2027 Operating Budget and Request for County Funding during regular February Board of Education meeting.
January - April 2026
Maryland General Assembly will work on the State budget, determining school system State funding.
March - May 2026
County Government will work on the County budget, determining school system County funding. Specific meeting and public hearing dates have not yet been announced.
May 13, 2026 4:00 PM Board Room, 125 North Court Street, Westminster
Board of Education considers adjustments to FY 2027 Operating Budget based on final State and County funding amounts and other changes proposed by the Superintendent, followed by Approval of FY 2027 Operating, Food Service, CIP, and Debt Service Budgets, all during the regular May Board of Education meeting.
There will be an opportunity for public comment at the Board Meetings and Public Hearing. Digital sign-up will be available on the Carroll County Public Schools website on the previous business day, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Click here to register. Please note, any form that is not filled out in its entirety will not be considered. If you do not have Internet access and would like to register to speak, please contact the Communications Office at 410-751-3020 during this time. Citizens will no longer be able to sign up at the meeting.
After registering, citizens will receive a confirmation that their registration has been received. They will also be directed to check the website at noon the day of the meeting to see the names of those selected to speak and the order of speakers.
All citizens have the opportunity to submit public comment to the Board through the CCPS website at www.carrollk12.org (click on the Board of Education tab and Contact Us) or through the US mail. Persons who wish to have their comments posted on the Public Comments page of the website should indicate so at the beginning of their email. Comments must be received by 1:00 p.m. on the day of the hearing in order to be posted prior to the meeting.
Proposed
At the February 11, 2026 Board of Education meeting, the Board made several changes to the Superintendent’s Proposed FY 2027 Operating Budget. The Board then adopted the revised budget as its preliminary FY 2027 operating budget and request for county funding.
Summary of Board of Education Budget Changes and Revised Total Proposed Operating Budget
The Superintendent's Proposed FY 2027 Operating Budget was presented at the Board of Education meeting on January 14, 2026.
Superintendent's Proposed FY 2027 Operating Budget Summary
Superintendent's Proposed FY 2027 Operating Budget
FY 2027 Proposed Operating Budget Presentation
Approved
The Board of Education of Carroll County approved the Operating Budget for FY 2026 at its meeting in May 2025.
FY 2026 Approved Operating Budget
| FY 2025 | |
| FY 2024 | |
| FY 2023 | |
| FY 2022 | |
| FY 2021 | |
| FY 2020 | |
| FY 2019 | |
| FY 2018 | |
| FY 2017 | |
| FY 2016 | |
| FY 2015 | |
| FY 2014 | |
| FY 2013 | |
| FY 2012 | |
| FY 2011 | |
| FY 2010 | |
| FY 2009 (Summary Book) | |
| FY 2008 (Summary Book) | |
| FY 2007 (Summary Book) | |
| Previous fiscal year budgets are available to view in the Budget Office. |