PRESS RELEASE: FY27 Budget Announcement
TAAAC President Kristina Korona released the following statement:
"Over the last eight years, we appreciate that County Executive Pittman has made significant investments in our public education system. However, during this time, the needs of the school system have continued to increase. This means that even with this year’s proposal for historic investment, this county budget would not meet AACPS’s growing staffing needs nor provide the educator salary enhancements to continue to move AACPS “from good to great.” During this budget cycle, we are glad that the personal stories of elementary educators helped to move the County Executive to add funding for 28 special education positions--but this is just about a quarter of the additional staffing requested by the Board of Education this year. Additionally, the proposed 2.25% COLA does not keep up with inflation. As a result, with the rising costs of basic necessities, such as gas, electricity, and groceries, educators are falling behind. We urge the county council to be both creative and courageous in order to find the necessary revenue to ensure that our students have the schools they deserve."
"Over the last eight years, we appreciate that County Executive Pittman has made significant investments in our public education system. However, during this time, the needs of the school system have continued to increase. This means that even with this year’s proposal for historic investment, this county budget would not meet AACPS’s growing staffing needs nor provide the educator salary enhancements to continue to move AACPS “from good to great.” During this budget cycle, we are glad that the personal stories of elementary educators helped to move the County Executive to add funding for 28 special education positions--but this is just about a quarter of the additional staffing requested by the Board of Education this year. Additionally, the proposed 2.25% COLA does not keep up with inflation. As a result, with the rising costs of basic necessities, such as gas, electricity, and groceries, educators are falling behind. We urge the county council to be both creative and courageous in order to find the necessary revenue to ensure that our students have the schools they deserve."
