During a three-week special session that ended Nov. 18, Maryland legislators agreed to cut from next year’s state budget $145 million that would have helped schools fight inflationary increases.
The money was part of a mandated increase in funding for schools enacted in 2002, calling for the state’s schools to receive an additional $1.3 billion over five years, ending this school year. The state had been expected to continue funding schools at the increased level, but a shortfall led Gov. Martin O’Malley, a Democrat, to propose cuts to next year’s budget.
The cuts were approved as part of a budget-reconciliation bill for fiscal 2008 and will serve as recommendations for Mr. O’Malley, who will present his state budget for the next fiscal year in January.
