ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Maryland lawmakers who have been negotiating the finishing touches on the state's $46.6 billion budget have wrapped up their work.
The budget conference committee reached agreement Monday on the state's budget measure and a separate bill that is working in tandem to balance the budget.
One of the key differences the House and Senate negotiators worked out involved additional education funding to begin implementing a state commission's recommendations to improve schools. They settled on $255 million in additional funding for the next fiscal year. It will go toward expanding pre-K and increasing special education funding. Some also will be set aside for teacher pay increases.
The panel also settled on $500 million for school construction funding.
The committee's work now goes back to the House and Senate for final approval.