ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Anne Arundel County Board of Education adopted its Fiscal Year 2026 operating and capital budget requests on Feb. 24, 2025, submitting them to County Executive Steuart Pittman for inclusion in the county’s next budget. The operating budget, upped by $8.8 million via 18 of 22 amendments to Superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell’s proposal, rises $138.4 million over FY2025. The $204.7 million capital budget, passed as proposed, focuses on completing the Old Mill Master Plan and other school upgrades.
The Board assessed 22 amendments (listed online), approving 18 to enhance Dr. Bedell’s plan. Highlights include a 1% mid-year COLA for all employees—adding to a 3% COLA and step increases—a $10 daily pay increase for substitutes, and a $1,000 incentive for 30+-year veterans to stay. Counselors may earn National Board Certification stipends, pending negotiations, and fourth-grade teachers will be compensated for Arlington Echo overnight trips. New funds support instrument upkeep, two social workers, four additional counselors (totaling 7.5), one more Pupil Personnel Worker (totaling three), two psychologists, CASE program expansion, a full high school weapons detection pilot, and two bilingual facilitators.
Dr. Bedell’s five amendments adjust for a $1.5 million funding cut, reducing 141.2 positions, while Board additions of $10.3 million and 11 positions prioritize compensation, special education, literacy, multilingual support, and wellness—totaling 239.2 new roles. The capital budget earmarks $77.1 million for Old Mill High School, $29.7 million for Old Mill Middle School North, and $13 million for Center of Applied Technology North, with the high school and CAT North on the current site and the middle school shifting to CAT North’s property.
Capital funds also cover $33 million for system repairs, $9.2 million for a bus facility per a Prismatic audit, $8 million for maintenance, and allocations for pre-K, athletics, and security. Pittman will integrate these into his May budget for the County Council, with hearings leading to a June 15 approval. The Board finalizes its budget June 18, 2025.
