Baltimore County schools are struggling to make ends meet during the current recession.
That could lead to higher property taxes in the not too distant future.
Schools in Baltimore are currently facing staff reductions and other expense reductions in an effort to balance the proposed 2012 budget.
Everything is currently on the table for consideration including teacher reductions, less money for supplies, delaying capital spending to upgrade schools, and pre-school programs.
School headquarters cut its budget by 5% and each school was asked to do the same.
Even with these actions the situation in Baltimore County is a lot worse than it appears on the surface.
That’s because more than 40% of the funding for the Baltimore County schools comes from the State of Maryland. State legislatures are expected to cut school funding in the near future in order to address the state’s budget crisis.
While class sizes are expected to increase by approximately 2 students per class, massive increases in class size will be necessary in the not too distant future if state budget cuts materialize.
The situation in Baltimore County is similar to most counties located in major metropolitan areas across the country. As Federal and state governments try to balance their own budgets it creates more pressure at the local level to raise taxes.
As these cuts at higher levels of government materialize, there will be a raging debate among parents and school officials in the county in the near future. That conversation could result in a situation where property tax increases are required in Baltimore County in order to keep class sizes at a reasonable level in the school district.
Don’t wait around for higher property taxes. Use ValueAppeal to challenge your Baltimore County property tax assessment.
