Prince George's County Schools Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. has formally unveiled a $1.61 billion operating budget for fiscal year 2013, which for the first time gives county principals the autonomy to control their own budgets at the school level.

While school board members had questions about special education and security, much of the discussion focused on Hite’s so-called student-based budgeting plan that underwent a pilot program in eight schools last year.

Under the program, schools in Bowie, Upper Marlboro and Adelphi were allowed to submit budgets that reflected the needs of their schools. Still, local school leaders will need more time to understand the student-based budgeting plan, according to school system information.

“I think that it is truly a measure whose time has come,” said school board member Rosalind A. Johnson (District 1) during the meeting.

School board member Amber P. Waller (At-large) also chimed in, calling student-based budgeting “an excellent tool” to involve the community in the budget process.

But while school board member Henry P. Armwood Jr. (District 7) also applauded the initiative, he warned against a potential backlash. In years’ past, central office administrators were responsible for budget cuts. Hite’s plan would allow principals to make their own cuts. That, Armwood said, puts the blame squarely on the school leaders.

“I understand that’s not the intent, but we want to be clear on that,” he said during the meeting.

Elsewhere, Hite’s budget anticipates a decrease in federal aid and flat funding from the county. And while the school system’s enrollment continues to decrease—119,707 students in 2011, down from 126,671 students in 2010—the number of economically disadvantaged students and limited-English speakers continues to rise.

Next school year, the school system expects a 5.2 percent increase in the number of economically disadvantaged students and a 5.6 percent increase in the number of limited-English speakers.

Community budget forums will be held at 6:30 p.m. on the following dates:

• Jan. 11 at Laurel High School
• Jan. 17 at Gwynn Park Middle School
• Jan. 25 at Cora L. Rice Elementary School

A public hearing will take place at 7 p.m., Jan. 24 in the Sasscer Administration Board Room in Upper Marlboro.

The school board is scheduled to adopt Hite’s budget on Feb. 23 and submit it to County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, who will include it in the county budget proposal he submits to the County Council, which has the final say on all budgets.