Montgomery County school board passes budget

The Montgomery County Board of Education unanimously approved a $2.3 billion budget Wednesday morning that would modestly increase education spending next school year, but members warned that it was just the first step in what is likely to be a tough fight this spring about cuts in Maryland's largest school system.

The budget represents a 2 percent increase over the current fiscal year, and is the minimum required by state education funding regulations. But the county council will have final say over education spending, and it will make a decision in May.

"This is really just barely what we need," said school board President Patricia O'Neill (Bethesda-Chevy Chase).

-- Michael Birnbaum