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The new Republican leader of Howard County has joined Democrats in the Maryland legislature in calling for Gov. Larry Hogan (R) to boost education funding next year.

Hogans proposed budget includes an overall increase in state aid for K-12 education, but it provides $144million less for local jurisdictions than mandated under existing funding formulas, based on enrollment and other factors.

In a letter Wednesday, Howard County Executive Allan H. Kittleman (R) asked Hogan to provide an additional $5.7million to his jurisdiction, arguing that proposed budget cuts in education funding would severely hamper Howard Countys ability to provide the outstanding student experience that is expected by our residents.

The slower growth in education spending is one of several strategies Hogan has advocated to close a state budget shortfall of more than $700million. He told reporters Tuesday that he is open to providing more money for education if legislators can find savings elsewhere.

As the governor has said many times over the past few weeks, he is open to all ideas from both Democrats and Republicans on how to live within our means while still providing for the essential government functions, and he looks forward to hearing from County Executive Kittleman with his ideas, Hogan spokesman Doug Mayer said Wednesday.

Mayer also pointed out that although Howard would get less education aid than anticipated next year under Hogans budget, the county would receive $6.9million more than it is receiving this year.

Kittleman, a former state senator, was in Annapolis on Wednesday lobbying Hogans budget staff for additional help, Kittleman spokesman Andy Barth said.

In his letter to Hogan, Kittleman said that Howard, one of the states wealthiest jurisdictions, is grappling with its own budget shortfall and that it would be disappointing to not be able to maintain some of our crowning achievements.

Besides the $5.7 million in K-12 aid, Kittleman also asks Hogan to restore about $900,000 in aid to Howard Community College and about $45,000 to the library system.

Democratic lawmakers have said restoring education funding is their top priority for the 90-day legislative session. And several Democratic county officials have also spoken out.

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Republican Howard County executive lobbies Hogan on education funds