Following the apparent demise of a recommended plan to plug the budget hole by drawing down the district's contingency fund, the board is having to reboot its discussions on the spending plan.
The board has already announced a Sept. 5 hearing to discuss solutions, including including a controversial option to raise the school system's occupational license tax.
Now school officials are planning on publicly discussing other options.
CivicLex's Adrian Bryant says while the tax increase is being considered again, school leaders are stressing that doesn't mean approval of the hike is a foregone conclusion.
"The chair of the school board, Tyler Murphy, said in last Monday's meeting... that having [the September public hearing] on the tax increase does not necessarily mean that they're going to vote to increase the tax again," he explained. "But by following this process, what they can do is make sure that that option is still on the table if they choose to pursue it in the future."
The board had initially approved the increase by a narrow 3-2 vote in late May, but that decision was shelved after an opinion from the attorney general stating the district unlawfully proceeded with the vote without sufficient public notice.
Next month's hearing would clear a way for the board to approve the tax increase a second time with more public input, if they choose.
The Thursday special public meeting on the budget will be virtual. It will be livestreamed on the FCPS YouTube channel starting at 5:30 pm.