Gazette: "MCPS cannot spend its reserves without the council’s OK."

...The school system projected it would end fiscal 2013 with a $21.8 million surplus, up from the $21.4 million it left unspent in fiscal 2012.
Even its latest projection has climbed.
In its previous financial report to the council, the system estimated it would end the year with $18.2 million in the bank. Now it expects to have just shy of $22 million.
“We’re very curious about this because [the surpluses] seem to be getting larger,” Ervin said in a phone interview.
Ervin (D-Dist. 5) of Silver Spring said council members have questions for the school system about the “very large” unappropriated fund balances it reports year over year.
She also said she wanted to know how it could put these funds toward eliminating achievement gaps...

 http://www.gazette.net/article/20130717/NEWS/130719185/1007/montgomery-council-curious-about-school-board-surpluses&template=gazette