This project reflects future unassigned MCPS fiscal capacity assumed within the County Executive recommendation to provide local matching funds needed to match Built to Learn Act State Aid.
This MCPS set-aside project is intended to support projects that only leverage State Aid.

Remaining cost was assigned to projects that leverage State Aid.

The Built to Learn Act resulted in approximately $378 million being set aside for Montgomery County Public Schools construction projects to be spent within a 10-year period. However, recently we were informed that this amount went down to $357 million due to increased interest rates. In order to fully access these funds, the County will need to have sufficient matching local funds.
In addition, the MCPS CIP has historically been very front loaded with significant spending in the first four years of the CIP and very little programmed in the last few years. This pattern exists because MCPS does not include most construction costs until planning is done. In addition, MCPS prefers not to identify specific potential construction projects too early so that they can more easily respond to the most current enrollment and facility condition data.
The problem with this practice is that when MCPS ultimately submits construction cost requests for planned projects, there is not enough money set aside for them. To adequately fund schools in those later years, the County Executive and the County Council must then delay other projects. This pattern is frustrating for our residents and for decisionmakers.

As these funds are released to support specific projects, it is expected that State Aid will also increase.