The Howard County Budget

How YOU Can Participate - Fiscal Year 2009

Hearings will be held in the Banneker Room and Work Sessions in the Ellicott Room, George Howard Building, Ellicott City, unless otherwise noted. (Directions to Howard County offices.)

The Budget Process

Each year the Planning Board reviews the proposed capital program and any new or substantially changed capital project, pursuant to law. The proposed capital programs for the following fiscal year are submitted to the Planning Board at least two months before the County Executive is required to file the county’s proposed capital program.

The Board prepares comments and recommendations on the impact of the proposed capital program on the county General Plan and the growth of the county. Within one month of receiving the proposed programs, the Board submits these comments and recommendations to the County Executive with a copy to the County Council.

The County Executive submits the proposed Capital and operating budgets for Howard County’s public agencies to the County Council for review and approval. The Council may approve the budgets as submitted or make reductions. The Council may not increase the Executive’s budgets, but may restore any amount to the Board of Education Budget that was not included by the Executive.

The Council reviews both the capital and operating budgets for each county agency. These include all departments directly under the Executive, Howard Community College, the Board of Education, the Library and certain state departments that receive partial funding, such as the departments of Health and Social Services.

The capital budgets include all building and long-term construction projects and programs planned for the next fiscal year and for the ensuing nine years. Capital projects are funded from bond sales, state and federal grants or, occasionally, from the operating budget. Water and sewer projects are funded primarily from user fees.

The operating budgets include each department’s proposed programs and services for the next fiscal year and their cost. The Council determines the amount of money each agency will be permitted to spend for the next year and sets the tax rate based on the total approved county budget.

We Listen...

The Council schedules a number of public hearings to receive testimony on each department’s capital and operating budgets. You may testify in person at a public hearing, submit written testimony, or e-mail or fax testimony to the Council at any time during the budget process.

If you choose to speak at public hearings, here are a few helpful tips.

• Acquaint yourself with the part of the budget you are addressing. (Copies of the budget are available at the Council Office, the Department of County Administration, County libraries, and on the County's website: www.howardcountymd.gov)
• Sign up to testify before the hearing.
• Individuals may be limited to three minutes of testimony; groups, five minutes.
• Leave 10 copies of your testimony with the Council Administrator.
• Don’t be nervous - the Council wants to hear your concerns, questions, opinions, support or opposition with regard to the budget.

Following the hearings, the Council holds work sessions with department heads and staff. Work sessions are open to the public; however, the public does not have an opportunity to speak. Budget decisions are made at work sessions but final determinations are not made until the Council adopts the entire county budget in legislative session before June 1.

F.Y.I.

• Public hearings are held in:
  Banneker Hearing Room, George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City
• Work sessions are held in the Ellicott Room, George Howard Building, unless otherwise noted.
• Written testimony may be mailed, faxed, or e-mailed to:

Sheila M. Tolliver, Administrator
Howard County Council
3430 Court House Drive
Ellicott City, MD 21043
Fax: 410-313-3297
E-mail: councilmail@howardcountymd.gov

• For additional information, call 410-313-2001 or visit the Council’s web page at: http://www.howardcountymd.gov/CountyCouncil/CC_HomePage.htm

• Persons needing accommodations to fully participate in the meeting, please contact the Council Office, 410-313-2001, at least eight working days in advance.

The Budget Calendar

Hearings will be held in the Banneker Room and work sessions will be held in the Ellicott Room unless otherwise noted.

Monday, March 10, 6:30 p.m. (Tyson Room)
Council meets with Planning Board and Board of Education
re: recommendations and requests

Police
Fire
Recreation & Parks
Community Renewal (housing)
Agricultural Preservation
Public Works

General County
Sewer
Water
Storm Drainage
Transportation

Bridges
Road Resurfacing
Road Construction
Sidewalk/curb
Intersection Improvements

Tuesday, April 22, 1:00 p.m.
Work Session - Capital Budget
(all departments except Board of Education, Libraries, Community College

Tuesday, April 22, 5:00 p.m.
County Executive’s presentation of the budget

Tuesday, April 22, 5:30 p.m.
Hearing – Capital and Operating Budgets Department Heads testimony only all departments except Board of Education, Libraries, Community College

Friday, April 25, 9:00 a.m.
Work Session - Operating Budget (if needed)

Tuesday, April 29, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.; continue at 7:00 p.m.
Public Hearing - Capital and Operating Budgets

Community College (4:00 p.m.)
Library
Board of Education

Wednesday, April 30, 7:00 p.m.
Public Hearing - Operating Budget
(all departments except Board of Education, Libraries, Community College)

Monday, May 5, 7:00 p.m.
Constant Yield Hearing

Tuesday, May 6, 9:00 a.m.
Work Session - Operating Budget

Legislative and Judicial
Public Safety (Police, Fire)
Public Facilities

Friday, May 9, 9:00 a.m.
Work Session - Capital and Operating Budgets

Board of Education

Friday, May 9, 1:00 p.m.
Work Session - Capital & Operating Budgets

Community College

Friday, May 9, 4:00 p.m. Work Session Capital and Operating Budgets

Library

Tuesday, May 13, 9:00 a.m.
Work Session - Operating Budget

General Government

Tuesday, May 13, 11:00 a.m.
Public Hearing - General

Tuesday, May 13, 1:00 p.m.
Work Session

Community Services, Funds/Revenues

Wednesday, May 14, 3:00 p.m.
Work Session (if needed)

Pending Issues

Friday, May 16, 9:00 a.m.
Work Session (if needed)

Education

Tuesday, May 20, 1:00 p.m.
Work Session (if needed)

Pending Issues

Thursday, May 22, 11:00 a.m.
Legislative Session

Adopt Budget