TOWSON, Md. — Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski on Tuesday released his $3.9 billion proposed budget for fiscal year 2021.
The proposal includes more than $2 billion for education, including a one percent cost-of-living increase for all Baltimore County Public Schools employees, effective July 1, 2020.
Over $1 million would be provided to hire additional school counselors and support staff to help address the mental health, social and emotional needs of students.
Funding would also be available for the Early College High School program at Woodlawn High School and the Pathways in Technology program at Dundalk High School.
The budget would also reserve Baltimore County’s portion of capital funding for remaining Schools for our Future projects, pending further state funding from the Built to Learn Act.
Money would would also go to public safety, including the Real Time Crime Center, turnout gear for firefighters, two new Police Athletic League Centers, $1 million for volunteer fire companies, and a newly operational 311 program.
As part of the proposed budget, Olszewski says he's looking to expand the county's Office of Ethics and Accountability, by creating an Audit Compliance Unit to improve operations and help track COVID-related expenditures.
Under the proposed budget, all county workers would get a previously negotiated two percent cost‐of‐living increase beginning June 30.
Funding would cover planning and the implementation of the Towson Circulator pilot program, with the assistance of a $1.6 million federal grant.
The County is also looking to resume glass recycling, which the prior administration suspended.
Olszewski's budget also calls for freezing in-County tuition at the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC), and for the college to have the ability to accept 300 more students.
The County Executive is also planning to introduce legislation that would put enforcement cameras on school buses for cars failing to stop for flashing school bus stop signs.
The County Council is scheduled to vote on the budget on May 21.
