Anne Arundel Co.'s Budget Passed, But What Made The Cut?

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — From education to public safety and county services, the fiscal year 2027 budget approved by the Anne Arundel County Council included a range of healthy increases for residents.

The unanimously passed fiscal budget earmarked some $2.5 billion, of which $73.4 million will be allocated to the Anne Arundel County Public Schools.

Education funding accounts for the largest year-over-year increase in the county's history.

The tens of millions will be used to cover raises for county employees and teachers' assistants, the creation of 26 new special education roles, construction for field houses and a greenhouse, feasibility studies, and the last three schools set to make up the Old Mill Master Plan.

Bolstering the region's health and human services programs, funding increases were laid out for homeless youth advocacy, the nutrition assistance program under the Department of Aging & Disabilities, the Turnaround Thursday program, and the Anne Arundel County Food Bank.

Funding for the AACFB rose to $2 million.

With the newly approved funds, the following job postings will also be opened to the public:

• Five new Medicaid Navigator positions to help residents determine their health care coverage and two case manager roles under the REACH Program.
• Nine new postings under the police department and 26 new firefighter positions to staff a new Jacobsville tanker.

Officials will also be looking to launch an emergency services pilot program that will be jointly funded with the City of Annapolis.

Despite an initial objection by County Executive Steuart Pittman, $150,000 in grant funding will be made available for local nonprofits and faith-based groups vulnerable to hate crimes. The allocation would be used to address security needs.

A win for homeowners comes in the form of a slight decrease to the county property tax rate. For every $100 of assessed value, the tax rate dips from 97.7 to 96.8 cents.

The budget's approval marks the last that Pittman will take part in as he wraps up his last year as county executive.