
Howard County Executive proposes $367 million 2026 budget to fund, education, infrastructure projects
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball submitted his
proposed $367 million 2026 budget
to the county council this week.
The 2026 Capital Improvement Plan contributes funding to education, public safety, flood control, community facilities, infrastructure and transportation in the county.
The projects will be funded through $79.4 million in bonds, $74.8 million in pay-as-you-go funding and several low-interest loans, grants and other sources, Ball said.
"This proposed capital budget has been developed to carefully balance Howard County's fiscal obligations, preserve our AAA bond rating, and meet the growing needs of our residents, businesses, and visitors," Ball said in a statement. "Despite uncertainty at the state and federal level, we continue to plan responsibly and make key investments that ensure an excellent quality of life for all."
County Executive Ball's proposed budget fully funds the Board of Education's budget request with a recommendation of $100.6 million in local and state funding.
The funding would include $66.7 million from the county and $33 million in anticipated state aid, according to Ball.
The Howard County Board of Education approved its
$1.257 billion 2026 operating budget
in early March, which included funding to hire athletic trainers in all high schools, add 250 new full-time employees and increase pay for employees.
County Executive Ball's budget prioritizes safety, infrastructure and maintenance across Howard County school facilities. More than $35 million will be used to support renovations and HVAC replacements. The funds will also be used to secure every high school with a single point of entry to increase student safety.
According to Ball, $12.6 million will be used to address electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems at Oakland Mills Middle School and expand capacity at the school. $6.7 million will be used to renovate Dunloggin Middle School and expand capacity.
Another $6.7 million will be used for roof replacements and maintenance, and $5.4 million will be used for technology investments, playground equipment and classroom relocation projects.
The board of education is expected to pass the final budget in May after the county budget is adopted.
Under the proposed budget, Howard County Community College (HCC) will get $5 million in County funding, $3.6 million in HCC funding and $11.9 million in state aid for the construction of the new Workforce Development and Trades Center. Another $1 million will support other renovations.
Ball said $5 million in state funds, which are currently being held for contingency, will be used to support planning and design efforts of a new Howard County Library in Columbia.
The proposed 2026 budget includes $2.5 million for renovations at the State Armory in Ellicott City that would transform the site into a training, safety and health facility.
The budget would also fund the design and permit costs for a new fire station in North Columbia and fire water protection systems.
Another $3.2 million was set aside for renovations at the Howard County Detention Center, including a new mental health unit and security updates. $1.9 million will be used to upgrade CCTV and projects at fire and police stations.
"In Howard County, our residents shouldn't only be safe, but they should feel safe. These investments help build on collective efforts to prioritize public safety and enhancing our commitment to building a safe community," said Ball.
Howard County Executive Ball included $23.2 million in his proposed 2026 budget to continue the Ellicott City Safe and Sound Plan.
The initiative has removed
more than 100,000 pounds of debris
from waterways in and around Ellicott City since it launched in 2018, following devastating floods in 2011, 2016 and 2018.
The plan has addressed flooding in the Tiber-Hudson Watershed by facilitating two major flood mitigation projects.
Ball's proposed budget also includes another $500,000 to restore vulnerable watersheds throughout the county.
Another $12.6 million will be used to replace the outlet structures of some existing stormwater management ponds. According to Ball, 82 of the county's 187 ponds are in critical condition.
To address water delivery, sewer collections and distribution systems, $61 million will be allocated to the county's Department of Public Works (DPW) for maintenance and upgrades. Another $670,000 will be used to ensure DPW complies with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's lead and copper rule changes.
The budget includes $11 million for IT infrastructure upgrades, AI tools in some county departments and expansion of the fiber network.
"These investments will yield long-term benefits to enhance efficiency and accessibility for our residents across our County Government platforms," said Ball.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Kentucky auditor reviewing concerns surrounding Fayette County Public Schools finances
LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — State leaders said Fayette County parents are voicing concerns about financial decisions being made by school board leadership after an attempted tax hike was found unlawful by the attorney general's office. Kentucky AG: Fayette County Public Schools violated law in attempted tax hike According to Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) leaders, an occupational tax increase was proposed as a necessary evolution in the school's future budget to balance against anticipated funding cuts, as well as increased demand on school staff and the school facilities themselves. 'This shift broadens the tax base to equitably support public education and ensure long-term sustainability without placing additional strain on property owners,' Dia Davidson-Smith, spokesperson for FCPS, said. 'We encourage our community to look beyond headlines and social media chatter and consider the full context of our decisions. Each investment is made thoughtfully, strategically, and with the success of our students in mind. Our progress is not by chance. It is the result of deliberate planning, partnership, collaboration, and a deep belief in the power of public education.' Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman wrote on Wednesday in an opinion that the school board's tax hike proposal was unlawful. HPD arrests woman for allegedly threatening drivers with box cutter Looking for a perfect swim day? These are the 5 clearest lakes in Kentucky Release of Steven Lawson proceedings temporarily prohibited by court 'If the Fayette County School Board members believe they need more of Kentuckians' hard-earned dollars, they should clearly and publicly make their case before their own constituents,' the attorney general wrote. Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, said in a news release on Thursday that she proposed the possibility of initiating an FCPS audit to State Auditor Allison Ball. She commended the Fayette County Fiscal Court for its decision to halt a vote on the proposed hike. Fayette County fiscal court halts vote on school tax increase after AG opinion 'Given widespread concerns about spending priorities and the recent tax controversy, an independent review could provide much-needed transparency and reassurance,' Bledsoe said in a news release. 'Taxpayers deserve to know that education dollars are being used effectively, and I will continue to push for accountability where it's needed.' Auditor Ball told FOX 56 that she's heard about financial concerns at FCPS from more sources than just Sen. Mays-Bledsoe. 'I have heard from parents and other constituents concerned about the state of FCPS,' Ball said. 'In light of our ongoing audits of the Kentucky Department of Education and the Jefferson County Public School system, my office is reviewing these concerns to determine our next steps.' The school board carried out the rest of its June 5 meeting as planned, deciding on unrelated agenda items. The next school board meeting will be June 23. Madylin Goins contributed to this story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
New Utah Fits All administrator to rerun applications after finding inconsistencies
Students work in a math class at Wasatch Junior High School in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) The administration change of Utah Fits All, the state's school choice program has hit some road bumps. Days after the Utah State Board of Education switched managers to run the program and the application portal closed, families are learning that they may have to apply again. Odyssey, a New York-based technology company that won the bid in May to run the voucher program, announced Friday on its website that after reviewing the application data the outgoing administrator provided, it found that in many cases the information was incomplete, inconsistent, or lacked proper verification. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The company 'will need to take additional steps to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance with the Utah Fits All law,' Odyssey officials wrote. They said those actions include re-running applications for families participating in the second year application cycle. 'We understand that this may be frustrating, but we believe this is the best path forward to determine eligibility accurately,' company officials said. The announcement comes after the Board of Education canceled early its multiyear contract with the program's previous third-party manager ACE Scholarships, citing 'convenience' reasons. The move was made possible by a 2025 bill that, among other changes to Utah Fits All, opened the door for a switch should the Board of Education need to change its current program administrator. Utah Board of Education ends contract early with Utah Fits All administrator Odyssey officials said ACE Scholarships' previous records make it impossible to determine students' eligibility since those records only show a small percentage of second year applicants successfully completed their income verification — a step on their application that's required by law. Those eligibility determinations will be delayed past the initial May 31 deadline, according to Odyssey. However, the company hasn't set a new timeline for the new process. Reconciling scholarship balances for current Utah Fits All participants is also underway, with 'a large population for whom Odyssey cannot determine their current balance because there are thousands of pending reimbursements, receipts, and transactions, many of which were received by Odyssey as recently as May 29th.' The company won't authorize any additional spending until pending purchases undergo further analysis, according to its website. As of Thursday, Utah Fits All's website listed June 30 as the last day to use 2024-2025 funds. Among the changes to Utah Fits All the Legislature approved this year is a 20% cap on extracurricular activities and physical education, in addition to tightened expense guidelines to explicitly prohibit the use of scholarship money to pay for ski passes, furniture, musical instruments, apparel, and other uses. While lawmakers approved more money to fund additional scholarships, bringing the total annual allocation for the program to $100 million, they also voted to reduce the amount some students could receive. This year, homeschooled children of ages 5 to 11 would have access to $4,000 a year, while those aged 12 to 18 years old could get up to $6,000. That's down from the $8,000 that was allowed during the program's first year. Private school students are still eligible for $8,000 a year to help cover their tuition or other expenses. Meanwhile, Utah Fits Alls is also facing other challenges that may threaten its existence. A 3rd District Court judge recently ruled the program to be unconstitutional, a win for the Utah Education Association, the state's largest teacher union. The union sued the state for diverting 'funds from already underfunded public schools,' union leaders said. They alleged the program violates the Utah Constitution, which explicitly says income tax revenue should be used to fund public education, among a few other limited uses. State leaders said they will appeal the decision to the Utah Supreme Court. While the case plays out in court, the program will continue to operate. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
'Lifting up student voices': Former Pueblo D60 board president seeks return to board
After nearly two years of staying tuned in to district happenings as a citizen, former Pueblo School District 60 Board President Tommy Farrell seeks a return to the board. Farrell has announced his 2025 candidacy for the Board of Education. He was initially elected to the Pueblo D60 board in November 2019 and became its president following the October 2022 resignation of Margaret Wright. Farrell sought reelection in 2023 to one of three four-year board seats, but did not finish among the race's three highest vote-getters. "My commitment to supporting public education and our students has only grown," Farrell told the Chieftain. "I continue to be involved and aware of what's happening. I think we need some voices on the board that will stand up for students, educators and our community." Since losing his 2023 reelection bid, Farrell has continued to watch board meetings and even has taken the podium to make public comment in order to make sure "every student has access to a safe education where they're seen and supported." In August 2024, Farrell was part of a group of LGBTQ+ rights activists calling on the Pueblo D60 board to adopt a non-legal name change policy to ensure the safety and well-being of transgender, non-binary, and gender-expansive students. Lately, Farrell has kept a close eye on Pueblo D60 conversations on "rightsizing" to address declining enrollment. "As the enrollment continues to decline in District 60, the available resources also change with that," Farrell said. "There's going to be some difficult decisions to make and difficult futures to look at as that's being done. I think it's important to have a very thoughtful approach there." Farrell added that discourse attempting to undermine public education in favor of privatization and voucher programs has become increasingly prevalent and that it is important to ensure children without access to private education are part of a "robust" public education system. Priorities listed by Farrell in a May 29 campaign news release include academic success for all students, inclusive schools supporting "the whole child," responsible budgeting that puts classrooms first, and community partnerships. "I am really focused on bringing a student-centered focus back to the board, listening deeply, lifting up student voices, building a school system where every student feels safe and seen, every educator is respected and supported, and every family knows their voice matters," Farrell said. Two Pueblo D60 board seats are up for election in November 2025: one is occupied by Board Vice President Kathy DeNiro, and the other is occupied by Director Brian Cisneros. More information about Farrell's campaign can be found at Pueblo Levee Mural: Pueblo Levee Mural artists inching closer to national, world records in 2025 Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@ Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Former Pueblo D60 school board president is running again