Good evening, County Executive Dr. Ball. Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. My name is Lanlan Xu, and I speak as a parent, a community advocate, and someone deeply committed to the future of Howard County’s public schools.
Our students and communities are hurting. We have seen school quality declining, teaching positions and programs cut, and a growing list of facilities in need of serious repair. The gaps in our operating and capital budgets continue to widen, and the strain shows up in classrooms across the county every day.
I recognize that the County is facing real financial constraints and competing priorities, and I appreciate the complexity of your decisions. And that is exactly why we must improve how we plan and fund education.
Currently, there is no formal process for collaboration between HCPSS and the County to make annual budgeting discussions more productive and efficient. This structure creates uncertainty for both the County and the school system, and contributes to reactive decision-making and recurring anxieties for families, educators, and communities.
Tonight, I respectfully urge you to consider the following:
First, increase funding for HCPSS’ operating budget so the system is not yet again forced to increase class sizes, cut teaching positions, or eliminate programs essential to student learning and well-being.
Second, increase the level of PayGo funding directed to HCPSS’ capital needs. Deferred maintenance is growing faster and faster. Nearly 80% of our schools have been identified by the state as needing repairs, and 20 schools—one in four—are deemed functionally unreliable. The longer we wait, the more expensive it becomes. We must stop the bleeding first.
Third, I urge the County, HCPSS, and the State to establish a joint multi-year budgeting framework. A coordinated process would allow all parties to share assumptions early, anticipate pressures, and make responsible long-term decisions. It would bring transparency, predictability, and stability. And with that shared structure in place, we can more effectively explore innovative solutions together, including public-private partnerships and bond options, to meet the needs of our schools.
The choices made in this budget will shape our school system for years to come. I urge you to make the investments needed now while embracing joint multi-year planning to strengthen collaboration for the long-term benefits of our community.
Thank you for your leadership, and thank you for your commitment to Howard County’s children.