Towson, Md. (WBFF) — Baltimore County Public School administrators are defending their actions after a Fox45 News investigation raised concerns over what the district has told taxpayers about next year’s budget.

This as some believe the district is not telling taxpayers the full story about proposed increases. But the superintendent says that’s not true.

Project Baltimore went a press event on Tuesday to try to get answers from Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers.

“Can you explain to taxpayers and parents why you haven't fully discussed that your ask is $530 million more next year?” Questioned Project Baltimore’s Chris Papst.

“I would say that, that statement is not accurate,” replied Rogers during the press event.

Fox45 News, on Monday, first reported how it appears Dr. Rogers is not telling the public the entire story when it comes to the district’s 2026 proposed operating budget. In her proposal, released earlier this month, Dr. Rogers is recommending a $2.98 billion budget, which is $530 million more than taxpayers provided the district in this year’s budget – a 21.7% increase. But since releasing her budget, some feel Dr. Rogers has not been fully transparent with the public.

“It feels like a tactic to keep you kind of in the dark,” Amy Adams the President of the Baltimore County Parent and Student Coalition told Project Baltimore. “It is disappointing.”

Since Dr. Rogers unveiled her 2026 proposed operating budget, her office has issued multiple community updates in addition to hosting two budget presentations lead by the superintendent. Through all of it, Rogers never mentioned the district is requesting $530 million additional tax dollars next year.

“Do you want to know why Dr. Rogers has not directly told the public about the 21.7% increase?” Papst asked Adams.

“Of course,” she replied. “This is a big ask.”

That is why Project Baltimore attended Tuesday’s press event.

“My specific comment on how we share with taxpayer is we absolutely have shared with taxpayer,” Rogers said on Tuesday.

Most of the proposed increases are allocated to the district’s capital budget, which funds school construction projects. Rogers explained the process for drafting the capital budget, which started last spring, is public and can be found on BCPS’ website. Taxpayers can download the documents and study them.

So, when Rogers released her proposed 2026 budget, she told Fox45 News, she did not focus on the 21.7% increase in the overall budget. Instead, she focused on the 6.5% increase in the general fund budget, which supports day to day school operations.

“Taxpayers want to know what's going to happen with teachers in their schools, what's going to happen with class sizes, with resources,” Rogers said during Tuesday’s press event.

“The school systems and governments talk about transparency and honesty and wanting the community to be well informed. But it doesn't always feel that way,” Adams told Project Baltimore.

Adams says she pays close attention to how BCPS spends money. And until Project Baltimore reported it, she did not know the district is requesting a 21.7% increase in funding.

Back at Tuesday’s press conference.

“My question is simply - you've had opportunities in the past couple of weeks to inform taxpayers of that, because most people aren't going to go on your website and read the budget. They don't have time to do that. They rely on their leaders to tell them the full story. You could have told taxpayers the full story about the $530 million,” said Papst.

“We have shared with all of our taxpayers very clearly, very deliberately what our ask is around the capital budget,” replied Rogers.

“It's really frustrating,” stated Adams. “And it's a pattern that we hoped we were getting away from with our former superintendents. We were hoping that she was going to bring change and transparency.”

Baltimore County’s proposed 21.7% budget increase does appear to be a big ask. Anne Arundel County Schools is asking for an 8.3% increase in its total budget. School leaders in Howard County are recommending a near 7% increase.