Montgomery County schools face $3 billion maintenance backlog as new year begins
Key Highlights
- Montgomery County Public Schools is managing a facilities maintenance backlog of approximately $3 billion, according to district and county data.
- Superintendent Thomas Taylor says two-thirds of the roughly 240 facilities managed by the Maryland district require significant renovation work.
- The district has identified 40 HVAC systems that are not functioning as they should, along with needs involving roofs, electrical and plumbing systems, masonry, and other building components.
- Most Montgomery County students begin the 2026–27 school year Tuesday, Aug. 25, following a transition day for selected students Aug. 24.
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is kicking off the 2026–27 school year while confronting a facilities maintenance backlog that has grown to approximately $3 billion. Superintendent Thomas Taylor told WJLA 7News that MCPS manages 211 active schools and roughly 240 facilities, and that about two-thirds of those buildings require major renovation work that span multiple building systems.
Taylor said the district currently has 40 HVAC systems that are not functioning as they should, in addition to problems involving electrical and plumbing systems, roofs, masonry, and other infrastructure.
Rising costs add pressure to facilities budget
Taylor attributed part of the growing backlog to construction inflation and rising labor costs that have outpaced facilities funding.
“There’s so many of our schools that are in desperate need of maintenance support,” Taylor told WJLA, noting that funding has remained the same while inflation continues to increase, making the maintenance backlog worse.