Citing a $320 million budget surplus, Maryland Democratic lawmakers on Monday called on Republican Gov. Larry Hogan to restore $68 million in education funding.

“Governor Hogan, Halloween is over. Stop trying to trick the people of the state of Maryland into believing we don’t have the funds,” state Sen. Richard Madaleno, Montgomery County Democrat and vice chairman of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, said at a press conference in Annapolis.

Mr. Hogan and the Democrat-controlled General Assembly have feuded over primary and secondary education spending, and how much money should go to the Geographic Cost of Education Index (GCEI), which helps 16 of the state’s 24 jurisdictions that need additional help.

Fully funding the index this year would have cost $136 million, but Mr. Hogan only proposed $68 million while facing a budget deficit when he took office in January. The legislature earmarked the rest the money for the GCEI, but it’s up to the governor to release the money. If he declines, the money rolls over to the general fund for the next fiscal year.

In grappling with his decision, Mr. Hogan — who ran his gubernatorial campaign on a promise of fiscal responsibility — says he’s still worried about the long-term picture.

Doug Mayer, Mr. Hogan’s spokesman, said Maryland is still projected to run a nearly $1 billion cumulative shortfall over the next five years and has a $20 billion deficit in the teacher and state employee pension system.

“Despite these obvious financial constraints, this administration funded education at record levels this past year and it will remain a top priority going forward. Governor Hogan was the first governor in the history of the state to fund GCEI in his first year in office and he will be the first governor to fully fund it in his second year,” Mr. Mayer said.

The legislature’s top Democrats, House Speaker Michael E. Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, blasted the governor’s decision as one that would “shortchange our kids.”

“We’re asking the governor to take the money that’s already been appropriated by the Maryland General Assembly, release it to the school systems, let them use it in the classroom, make sure the resources are there for every child in the state of Maryland,” said Mr. Busch, Anne Arundel Democrat.

Mr. Miller said that while he considers the governor a friend, he was standing against Mr. Hogan’s position not to spend the money.

“It’s up to the governor to do his part,” said Mr. Miller, Calvert Democrat. “Give the money back to the kids.”

Democrats said Mr. Hogan could spend the $68 million on schools and another $50 million on pensions and still show a surplus of $202 million to carry into fiscal 2017.

During the spring legislative session, Mr. Hogan accused the legislature of “irresponsibility” after lawmakers shifted money from pensions to the supplemental education fund.

State Sen. Edward Kasemeyer, Baltimore County Democrat and chairman of the Sen. Budget and Taxation Committee, said the state had once again received a AAA bond rating and had provided an extra $75 million for pensions on top of the yearly contribution of $1.7 billion already.

Now, with the $50 million, they will have overfunded by $125 million, Mr. Kasemeyer said.

The GCEI has been a discretionary part of the state aid formulas that provides added funding to local school systems where costs are above the state average. It had been fully funded each year since fiscal year 2010.

The General Assembly passed a measure this year to mandate full GCEI funding in future years, if the governor did not fully fund it this fiscal year.

• This article is based in part on wire service reports.

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