League Backs Inspector General Oversight of County School Board

Aug. 24, 2025—Today the Baltimore County League of Women Voters issued a press release expressing the League's support for Baltimore County Council Resolution 40-25, calling on the State Legislature to extend the authority of the Baltimore County Inspector General to include oversight of the county Board of Education. 

Text of the press release follows:

League of Women Voters of Baltimore County Supports Resolution 40‑25
Calls for Stronger Oversight to Strengthen Public Confidence in Education

Towson, MD — The League of Women Voters of Baltimore County (LWVBCO) announces its support for Resolution No. 40‑25, introduced by Councilman David Marks, which urges the Maryland General Assembly to extend the authority of the Baltimore County Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to include oversight of the Board of Education of Baltimore County.

The County Council introduced the Resolution on August 4, 2025. It will be discussed at the Work Session on Tuesday, August 26 at 4 p.m. and considered for Final Reading and a vote at the Legislative Session on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 6 p.m.

Baltimore County invests nearly half of its annual budget,  billions of taxpayer dollars, in our public school system. It is only right that the school system, like every other major County agency, be subject to independent oversight by the Inspector General.

The League stresses that oversight will not interfere with school system functions or the Board of Education. Rather, it will help strengthen operations, protect resources, and rebuild public trust at a time when concerns have been raised about how education dollars are managed.

According to LWVBCO President Ramona Johnson, “Independent oversight is not punitive; it’s constructive. It does not interfere with teaching, curriculum, or decision‑making by the Board or School System Administration. It does help ensure that taxpayer dollars reach the classrooms and students they are meant to serve.”

The Baltimore County League has long supported fiscal responsibility, transparency, and excellence in public education as essential pillars of a healthy democracy. Supporting Resolution No. 40‑25 continues this tradition.

The League of Women Voters of Baltimore County strongly urges the County Council to pass the resolution and calls on the Maryland General Assembly to adopt enabling legislation in its 2026 session.

Text of the League's Letter to the County Council:

August 24, 2025

Members of the Baltimore County Council
400 Washington Avenue, Room 205
Towson, MD 21204 Second Floor

Honorable Council Members:

The League of Women Voters of Baltimore County (LWVBCO) strongly supports Resolution No. 40‑25, introduced by Councilman David Marks, which urges the Maryland General Assembly to extend the authority of the Baltimore County Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to include oversight of the Board of Education of Baltimore County.

Baltimore County invests nearly half of its annual budget,  billions of taxpayer dollars, in our public school system. Due to the substantial financial obligation continuously placed on the citizens of the County, it is only right that the school system, like other major agencies, be subject to independent oversight by the Inspector General to avoid waste, fraud, and abuse. Such oversight will not hamper the work of the school system or the Board of Education. Rather, it will help strengthen systemic operations, protect resources, and rebuild public trust at a time when concerns have been raised about how education dollars are managed.

The League of Women Voters of Baltimore County has long supported fiscal responsibility, transparency, and excellence in public education as essential pillars of a healthy democracy. Supporting Resolution No. 40‑25 continues this tradition. Therefore, our organization respectfully urges the County Council to pass the resolution and calls on the Maryland General Assembly to adopt enabling legislation during the 2026 legislative session.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

League of Women Voters of Baltimore County

Executive Committee and Board of Directors