Watch CBS News

Governor Hogan Proposes $28M For Schools For State Budget, $23M For City Schools

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Governor Larry Hogan announced Sunday that the administration has reached an agreement with state leaders and is proposing over $23 million dollars of state funding for Baltimore City Public Schools, with another $5 million for several other counties.

While the funds announced by the governor do not cover the entire city public schools budget shortfall, it certainly helps avoid disaster.

Answering to the city's cry for help, the governor announced Sunday that his administration made an agreement with the General Assembly and Baltimore City to provide additional state funding to Baltimore City Public schools, totaling more than $23 million dollars. This comes after the mayor and other city officials pleaded with Governor Hogan, asking for help to solve the nearly $130 million dollar deficit facing city public schools.

"Ensuring that every Maryland student has access to a world-class education is the number one priority of our administration, and I thank Mayor Pugh, Dr. Santelises, and members of the legislature for working with us to provide this support to schools in Baltimore City and ten jurisdictions across the state," Governor Hogan said in a statement released Sunday.

"But more money isn't the only answer – we are proud that this funding is part of an agreement with Baltimore City leadership to bring greater transparency and accountability to city school finances. This is what students, parents, teachers, and Maryland taxpayers deserve."

The republican governor now says he will be submitting a second supplemental budget for the year, which includes the $23 million dollars for Baltimore City Public schools, $793,000 for Allegany, $240,000 for Calvert, $1.6 million for Carroll, $190,000 for Cecil, $456,000 for Garrett ,$356,000 for Harford, $215,000 for Kent, $22,000 for Queen Anne's, $455,000 for Somerset, and $133,000 for Talbot County.

The governor also says that the release of the funds is contingent upon passage of legislation which would require greater fiscal accountability, which includes a comprehensive audit of the city school system performed by an independent accountant, who'd be consulting with the Maryland Department of Budget and Management.

WJZ reached out to the mayor's office and City Public Schools for a statement on the governor's proposal, but have not received a response.

The supplemental budget will be submitted to the legislature on Monday.

Follow @CBSBaltimore on Twitter and like WJZ-TV | CBS Baltimore on Facebook

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.