Like most weeks, I’ve got good news and not as good news. I’ll reverse them so we end on the positive.
Enrollment in our schools declined this year, less than most places, but it’s still down, resulting from forced and voluntary emigration and possibly lower birth rates.
That means that the state funding increases that we’ve seen in recent years will be far less, which means that AACPS is asking the county for $100 million more than last year (the largest increase we’ve ever delivered was $52 million). And their request only covers basic stuff, like a 2% COLA for staff plus a step increase, and new positions to keep up with basic state requirements and our growing population of students with disabilities.
The Superintendent’s budget request was presented to the Board of Education last night, and I would love to have the resources to fully fund it. The data shows clearly that our investments in AACPS are delivering for our kids, our economy, and our future. The Board of Education will review and possibly amend the AACPS budget request in the coming weeks.
But we have other county services that must also be delivered, and we want to hear about your priorities. Dates have just been posted here for our eight Budget Town Halls throughout January and February. This is our administration’s last Budget Town Hall Tour, so please join your neighbors for the session in your district. You’ll walk away much better informed about how your tax dollars are allocated and what your neighbors are concerned about.
As we project future county expenses and revenues, we need to watch economic indicators. Sage Economics reported this week that, “2025 is shaping up to be the worst year for job growth in more than 15 years (excluding 2020, obviously), and unemployment is steadily trending higher.”
The largest job losses in our county have been federal, but private employers are also cutting back. Mass workforce deportation and high tariffs are taking a toll. Agriculture, which is Maryland's largest industry, is being hit especially hard not only by the impact of deportation and tariffs on farm inputs, but also by the direct results of the new trade war on grain prices. Exports are down, and so is farm income. Total bankruptcies in the first half of 2025 increased by 7% over the first half of 2024, but farm bankruptcies increased by nearly 70%.
Now let’s switch to good news.
Yesterday, I was interviewed by three South River High students as part of their Global Communications and Public Affairs (GCPA) project. Their topic was a commercial section of Mayo Road. They want local businesses to thrive, and for the local community to feel safe walking, driving, and biking the area.
They had read Plan2040 and the recently adopted Region 9 Plan. Their knowledge and enthusiasm were inspiring, but what really struck me was their thirst for knowledge. We talked strategy, like surveying business owners, collecting signatures on petitions, interviewing community leaders, and showing up at Budget Town Halls.
GCPA is the signature program of South River High School. Maybe it should be the signature program of every school. It seems to work.
As we enter the holiday season, where peace and goodwill are on our minds, I must share with you the pride and gratitude I felt upon hearing the news this week that the Maryland House of Delegates unanimously voted to elevate Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk to lead that body, to be the first Afro-Latina Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates.
Speaker Peña-Melnyk represents a part of Anne Arundel County and masterfully chaired the Health and Government Operations Committee. More importantly, she has lived her life listening to and advocating for the people who need her most, as a child in an impoverished neighborhood of the Dominican Republic, as an attorney, and as a public servant.
Eight years ago, I sat down with Joseline when I was looking for advice. I was an unlikely candidate for County Executive facing long odds and the challenge of raising campaign funds against an incumbent who was backed by the county’s monied interests.
She did for me what I’ve since heard she did for so many others. She explained what was at stake, talked about who I could help, asked me what I cared about, and made me proud to be doing the work. We’ve been allies ever since.
Somebody on my staff said yesterday, “I can sleep at night knowing that we have Joseline Peña-Melnyk looking out for us.”
Me too.
Until next week…