ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) — The Montgomery County Board of Education has approved a budget that includes $18.6 million for employee raises, but that could set up a possible battle with the County Council.

Superintendent Joshua Starr’s budget request included money for raises ahead of the board’s budget meeting last week. Starr says he made a responsible request that reflects the community’s values.

Starr says the budget figures are tentative because the school system continues to negotiate with its employee groups.

The school system’s funding request is about $10 million more than the minimum that Montgomery must legally spend on education.

County and school officials have been at odds in recent years over how much to spend on education. The school board’s $2.23 billion request is an increase of 2.6 percent over this year.

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