6.6% Increase In Howard County's Proposed FY24 Operating Budget Includes New Initiatives

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — On Monday, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball unveiled his fiscal year 2024 operating budget, which reflects a 6.6 percent increase over the prior year. The spending plan contains historic funding for public education, as well as allows for major investments in public safety, health care services, housing and economic development.

“Our bold vision for community investment includes historic funding for education, ensuring that our school system continues to deliver an excellent education for all while advancing the transformational goals established in the state Blueprint for Maryland’s Future,” Ball said. “Moreover, this budget provides sustained funding to keep every member of our community safe, supported and strong through investments in public safety, housing, environmental protection, transportation and more.”

Howard County students

Howard County Public School System: For the second year in a row, funding for the Howard County Public School System exceeds $1 billion, a landmark 7 percent increase over fiscal year 2023. This increase of $47 million in recurring county funding is the highest county increase to HCPSS in Howard County history.

County funding for HCPSS will be $71.6 million above the minimum standard of maintenance of effort set by the state. When combined with state funding sources, total funding for HCPSS reaches $1.1 billion.

The budget includes $46.4 million to fully fund the negotiated salary increases for teachers and staff. An additional $7.5 million is dedicated to other post employment benefit contributions to meet retiree health benefits of school employees. The budget also includes $300,000 for a new program to assist educators in the repayment of their student loans.

One-time $887,000 county funding will support nonrecurring costs needed to open Howard County’s newest high school to welcome students since 2005. This one-time funding is pending approval from the State Department of Education.

A proposed increase of $2 million for Howard Community College is the second highest increase in at least 15 years, building on the historic funding growth provided in last year’s operating budget.

Proposed funding of $1.2 million for Howard County Library System is the second largest increase in at least 15 years. The budget also includes $1 million in one-time funding to provide supplemental cyber insurance coverage for HCC and HCLS as needed.

Safer communities

The budget includes an increase of $8.6 million to the Howard County Police Department for salary adjustments and increased safety investments for our community. Additionally, $175,000 will go toward storage of digital evidence to preserve the integrity of critical evidence that meets federal and state media storage laws.

A funding increase of $2.4 million is proposed to create 26 new firefighter trainee positions, which will help reduce overtime costs, alleviate personnel fatigue and generate savings.

Healthy residents

The budget contains $1 million to support the creation of a new behavioral health unit at Howard County General Hospital. Additionally, $1 million is included for Sheppard Pratt to support behavioral health initiatives at the Elkridge campus and $500,000 is proposed for Tuerk House to expand transitional housing for women and children in Howard County.

To advance the county’s commitment to providing access to quality healthcare for uninsured and underinsured mothers, the proposed budget includes $1.7 million for prenatal and maternal care.

Homeownership

This spending plan includes an historic $10 million to fund our innovative Housing Opportunities Trust Fund to support housing needs across the county.

To help current and future homeowners, the county’s homeownership and housing rehabilitation programs will receive $6.5 million to expand wealth-building opportunities for more households in the county. Additionally, $1 million is dedicated to rental assistance to help more residents remain safely and stably housed.

Business support

The proposed budget provides $12.6 million in operating grants to various nonprofits that provide human services, arts and cultural programs, and tourism promotion.

Support for local businesses continues with $2 million in funding for pandemic relief efforts, including funds for potential federal and state grant match opportunities.

To ensure fair access for minority and women-owned businesses, $402,000 has been dedicated for the development of a county disparity study. This study will evaluate and improve current programs and practices to ensure that minority and women-owned businesses are afforded fair opportunities to take part in county procurements.

Funding of $150,000 is also provided to determine the feasibility of a USDA meat processing facility in Howard County.

The proposed budget includes $20,000 for “We are HoCo Fresh” to promote and encourage restaurants to purchase locally from Howard County farms. Another $32,500 will support Roving Radish Marketplace and meal kits programs to help make farm fresh meals affordable to residents.

Protect the environment

This spending plan includes $500,000 to continue the Purchased Conservation Easement Pilot Program in partnership with the Howard County Conservancy, which provides a new mechanism to preserve environmentally valuable nonprofit-owned land for our future.

In addition, $75,000 is budgeted to update Howard County’s Landscape Manual in alignment with the Climate Action and Resiliency Plan, and $450,000 is included to support small-scale stormwater retention projects built by Howard EcoWorks.

Improving infrastructure

The proposed budget includes $150,000 to expand bus service in the Elkridge area. Additionally, $4.4 million in one-time PAYGO funding is provided in the capital budget to support bus stop improvements, sidewalks, road and bridge projects, and more. This spending plan also includes $150,000 for the development of a new transportation master plan for Howard County.

The proposed operating budget directs $40.7 million in one-time PAYGO funds to the capital budget to support Ellicott City Safe and Sound projects, including the extended north tunnel and Maryland Avenue culvert. These infrastructure projects will reduce the impact of severe flood events in historic Ellicott City.

This spending plan transfers $12.8 million in one-time PAYGO funds to the capital budget to address road resurfacing needs and preventative maintenance. This is the second largest investment in the past decade to support the ongoing road resurfacing needs for 1,080 miles of county roads.

Government improvements

Building on efforts to promote modernization, digital equity and innovation, the fiscal year 2024 proposed budget includes $500,000 in funding for innovation grants to keep Howard County on the cutting edge.

The proposed budget includes $600,000 to create five new technology positions to help improve our resilience to ransomware and other cybersecurity threats. These positions also will collect and analyze critical data in support of our vision of data-driven management and response to resident needs.

To support and retain our hard-working employees and help recruit new staff, the budget funds existing and anticipated collective bargaining agreements, a 5 percent increase or more in general for cost-of-living increases and step increases for qualifying employees.

“We recognize that fiscal restraint is necessary during a time of rising service costs and economic uncertainty," Ball said. “The investments we propose are possible because of the intentional, strategic, and responsible fiscal management we have exercised to ensure Howard County secured its AAA bond rating. This spending plan is designed to maintain these ratings. Working together, we will continue to advance our bold vision of community investment and deliver an excellent quality of live for all in Howard County.”