Under the union contract, teachers were entitled to a 6 percent raise next year, but to get it, they'd have to agree to adding three and a half days of work time to their year.

Instead, they took their other option - a 5 percent raise with no increase in work time.

Twice as many teachers in the union's voting body voted for the 5 percent increase as the 6 percent.

"At the end of the year, they look like combat veterans. The stress level is unbelievable," Mr. Mennuti said.

Schools spokesman Bob Mosier said the county school system also is watching the workload issue.

"We're concerned about workload issues for all our employees, and teachers are certainly a part of that," he said.

The teachers' pay decision follows a protest staged by hundreds of county teachers at a Board of Education meeting in November. At the time, they said they were being asked to perform too many duties beyond teaching, like data entry, answering e-mails and attending meetings.

That has increased the amount of time they spend on work far beyond their 37.5 hour contracted workweek, and if it continues, many said, they'll burn out.

And now teachers are looking at an even greater workload next year when class sizes rise because of a budget decision to cut 200 teaching positions from county schools, Mr. Mennuti said.

The cut is expected to save $12.2 million in year when the schools and county budgets are tight.

"The council's going to respect their (the teachers') decision. It is our job now to make sure the funding's in place," said Council Chairman Cathy Vitale, R-Severna Park.

Mr. Mennuti said he hoped that the teachers' rejection of a longer work year would send a message to the school administration.

"They haven't listened to anything else," he said.