Taylor's Operating Budget releases 12/17 at 6:30 pm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tonight, Dr. Taylor will release his 2027 operating budget recommendations:

This is going to drive the rest of the conversation for the school system between now and the June, so you'll want to tune in, pay attention and take lots of notes.

I predict gimmicky props and cringey dad jokes from Taylor. But given the budget shortfalls at the state and county levels, I also expect some pretty sobering statements and decisions as well as we simply don't have the money to fix all that is broken with MCPS. At least not all at once and in the face of declining enrollments and stagnant growth in the county.

Let's be clear: we- the county and state- do have the money if we would prioritize and fund schools appropriately, as has been done in the past. There just isn't public support or political will to do the necessary tax increases or other-spending decreases to do so.

We have a $1.5 billion shortfall at the state level. What kind of pocket change can be found in the couch cushions to close that kind of gap?

At the county level: We JUST raised taxes in 2023 https://dcist.com/story/23/05/25/md-montgomery-county-council-property-taxes-hike/

You think there's more appetite or willingness to raise property taxes AGAIN in the face of our county being decimated by DOGE and all of the chaos at the White House?

And even if we could muster that political will up, WHY should anyone feel good about pouring more money into MCPS with all of its systemic failures and incompetence?

MCPS has been a problem that seemingly no amount of money can fix.

How convenient for you that your parents and grandparents didn't hold the same view when you went to school.

People seem to forget inflation also applies to the costs incurred by public services- especially public services driven by labor costs. MCPS funding has gone up nominally, but inflation-adjusted per-student funding has gone down, with this past year being the exception to this trend.

DP: I doubt many people in the county will support yet another increase in taxes. In the end, people have options re where to live and there are many other places in the country with a lower tax burden than Montgomery county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tonight, Dr. Taylor will release his 2027 operating budget recommendations:

This is going to drive the rest of the conversation for the school system between now and the June, so you'll want to tune in, pay attention and take lots of notes.

I predict gimmicky props and cringey dad jokes from Taylor. But given the budget shortfalls at the state and county levels, I also expect some pretty sobering statements and decisions as well as we simply don't have the money to fix all that is broken with MCPS. At least not all at once and in the face of declining enrollments and stagnant growth in the county.

Let's be clear: we- the county and state- do have the money if we would prioritize and fund schools appropriately, as has been done in the past. There just isn't public support or political will to do the necessary tax increases or other-spending decreases to do so.

We have a $1.5 billion shortfall at the state level. What kind of pocket change can be found in the couch cushions to close that kind of gap?

At the county level: We JUST raised taxes in 2023 https://dcist.com/story/23/05/25/md-montgomery-county-council-property-taxes-hike/

You think there's more appetite or willingness to raise property taxes AGAIN in the face of our county being decimated by DOGE and all of the chaos at the White House?

And even if we could muster that political will up, WHY should anyone feel good about pouring more money into MCPS with all of its systemic failures and incompetence?

MCPS has been a problem that seemingly no amount of money can fix.

How convenient for you that your parents and grandparents didn't hold the same view when you went to school.

People seem to forget inflation also applies to the costs incurred by public services- especially public services driven by labor costs. MCPS funding has gone up nominally, but inflation-adjusted per-student funding has gone down, with this past year being the exception to this trend.

You answered none of the questions I posed to you.

[Anonymous]

Feed is up now:

[Anonymous]

Taylor is opening up with cost of living and how unaffordable Montgomery is for the MCPS workforce.

Is this a setup to a large proposed across-the-board raise? I would be shocked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I predict a lot of easily triggered mommies gnashing their teeth and taking swipes at Taylor for making videos or whatever .

Really.

Will Taylor discuss the ongoing litigation that he is continuing despite being Ordered to review the $168M electric school bus contract?

Maryland Appellate Court Order
Montgomery County Circuit Court Order
Maryland State Board of Education Decision

Taylor just keeps fighting in Court and keeps defying the Court Orders that have been issued.

Clearly there is no budget crisis if he has money to burn on losing litigation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I predict a lot of easily triggered mommies gnashing their teeth and taking swipes at Taylor for making videos or whatever .

Really.

Will Taylor discuss the ongoing litigation that he is continuing despite being Ordered to review the $168M electric school bus contract?

Maryland Appellate Court Order
Montgomery County Circuit Court Order
Maryland State Board of Education Decision

Taylor just keeps fighting in Court and keeps defying the Court Orders that have been issued.

Clearly there is no budget crisis if he has money to burn on losing litigation.

He did briefly acknowledge the Electric Bus contract mess but didn't linger on it or explain the system's failure to comply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tonight, Dr. Taylor will release his 2027 operating budget recommendations:

This is going to drive the rest of the conversation for the school system between now and the June, so you'll want to tune in, pay attention and take lots of notes.

I predict gimmicky props and cringey dad jokes from Taylor. But given the budget shortfalls at the state and county levels, I also expect some pretty sobering statements and decisions as well as we simply don't have the money to fix all that is broken with MCPS. At least not all at once and in the face of declining enrollments and stagnant growth in the county.

Let's be clear: we- the county and state- do have the money if we would prioritize and fund schools appropriately, as has been done in the past. There just isn't public support or political will to do the necessary tax increases or other-spending decreases to do so.

I'm in a six-figure income household (though low six figures) and would have a difficult time if my taxes increased much more.

Us also. We are already on the verge of moving outside of the county because of MCPS’s corruption and dishonesty about why they are really trying to ram through the regions model despite hard economic times and the fact it will not help failing students.

How exactly do you know what will help failing students? Always, failing students are not the only students in the county. Should all others be ignored?

The regional model is clearly not intended or designed to help the 53% of elementary school students, 70% of middle school students or 59% of high school students that are not proficient in math.

These are the majority of students so yes, MCPS should definitely focus on them as the others aren't being "ignored" - they are able to graduate from high school proficient in both matth and reading which is more than what the majority of MCPS students can say.

Do you really believe that 70% of all MCPS MS students are not proficient at math? Think about that a moment.

That's the data that I'm aware of on math proficiency. Are you aware of different data showing a different more palatable conclusion? And yes I absolutely believe it.

National data corroborating that US k-12 education is failing our kids
https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/09/09/naep-scores-12th-grade-math-reading-declines/

[Anonymous]

The metaphor for this year's budget is salad. He's calling this his garden salad budget.

I have no idea why or how this is better or worse than a broccoli budget, since they're both vegetable dishes, but that's the analogy he's running with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I predict a lot of easily triggered mommies gnashing their teeth and taking swipes at Taylor for making videos or whatever .

Really.

Will Taylor discuss the ongoing litigation that he is continuing despite being Ordered to review the $168M electric school bus contract?

Maryland Appellate Court Order
Montgomery County Circuit Court Order
Maryland State Board of Education Decision

Taylor just keeps fighting in Court and keeps defying the Court Orders that have been issued.

Clearly there is no budget crisis if he has money to burn on losing litigation.

He did briefly acknowledge the Electric Bus contract mess but didn't linger on it or explain the system's failure to comply.

$168,000,000 disaster approved by his Chief of Staff Essie McGuire.

[Anonymous]

Taylor now has staff from Food and Nutrition Services making a salad in real time, while he puts on an apron that says SUPERINTENDENT on it and put on a hair net.

[Anonymous]

A 3.25% increase for staff. Is this for all three unions or just the teachers' union? Not clear on the slide he's thrown up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Taylor now has staff from Food and Nutrition Services making a salad in real time, while he puts on an apron that says SUPERINTENDENT on it and put on a hair net.

OMG!!! I thought you were being silly. I started watching and he’s really working with salad!

[Anonymous]

A $139.7 million increase in salary and benefits. Holy moly....

[Anonymous]

This is embarrassing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Taylor now has staff from Food and Nutrition Services making a salad in real time, while he puts on an apron that says SUPERINTENDENT on it and put on a hair net.

Wait this is a joke, right? That is not actually happening, right?