Montgomery County officials announced on Apr. 30 a proposed operating budget of approximately $3.8 billion for the Montgomery County Public School system for fiscal year 2027, despite a continued drop in student enrollment.
The proposal is significant because it represents the largest school budget in county history and comes at a time when enrollment numbers are falling. The proposed budget would make up more than half of the county’s overall spending plan.
According to the announcement, MCPS experienced its largest single-year decline in student enrollment since the COVID-19 pandemic began, with nearly 2,200 fewer students from 2024 to 2025. Over the past seven years, total enrollment has dropped by almost 10,000 students while the school system’s budget has increased by more than $1 billion.
County Executive Marc Elrich has put forward a plan that covers all $3.8 billion requested by MCPS for its operating expenses. The proposal includes a property tax increase of 6.3 cents dedicated specifically to funding schools and exceeds mandated maintenance of effort funding by $202.8 million for fiscal year 2027.
The proposal has generated public engagement through rallies and testimony from parents, educators, and advocates who have highlighted needs such as staffing levels, special education services, transportation improvements, and class size reductions. The County Council is currently reviewing the plan through hearings and work sessions before making final decisions later this spring.
