[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6571863,"mediaKeyId","3100377-4e8e182f6d7b8b690d6ae6902bcb66d8","parentId",3100377,"title","Howard County seeks design approval for Banneker Room upgrades; design documents to proceed","audioSeconds",2112,"startMs",3432000,"endMs",5544000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3100377-4e8e182f6d7b8b690d6ae6902bcb66d8&start=3432&end=5544","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3100377-4e8e182f6d7b8b690d6ae6902bcb66d8/thumbnail_3432000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6571863/Howard-County/Maryland/Howard-County-seeks-design-approval-for-Banneker-Room-upgrades-design-documents-to-proceed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6571863-c9d46d9cb3337d8270082cc27caef3c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176152&Signature=QRwUXT6s~KBUzqFOu3Xl~6LCuE2kPD4tnejmD2JrnaR6io1gs6sIEe5sx1gzfMgL64mEbsUkFTv6g4zoKEMmtRsa2pPQiIlxROmQbDUGrTEjMgMAFr0daSkxEeaikAfS-Swhjb0bczt9sXNO8~rMvbV1IF5EwYPvQEGfTrw2kKRTK-mlfHJlE8atgfgdwOjuJrYObCM31ekHY5GQv8acRUm-lIN-AQDwlfjVIBSzek1cDJa4s4vJ908BRnz2wJVk33YefOw9vDimoaoZzZSxORX0LTgCs0NpqhjJpetkEooWGjVfTjAExU62eYiB2RGz3aQ-81TxcBat56QomYCyOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Howard","date","2025-04-22T00:00:00Z","article","Howard County facility staff and architects showed council members concept designs to renovate the Banneker Room, proposing an expanded, ADA‑accessible dais, upgraded audiovisual systems and new lighting and finishes to improve sight lines for in‑person and hybrid meetings.

The project team presented two dais options and asked for council feedback before preparing construction documents. County staff said they have included $700,000 in the current fiscal request to support council‑chamber work and associated AV/IT upgrades.

Krista Kerrigan, principal at Michael Graves Architecture, said the project is at the concept stage and that the team aims to prepare construction documents over the next two months. \"They are just ideas. We're at the concept design stage in the project,\" Kerrigan said. The designs call for removing short knee walls and the existing dais to install a larger curved dais with a ramp for ADA access, deeper counters and digital nameplates linked to microphones. The team also proposed replacing ceiling fluorescents with LED fixtures, refreshing carpet, and coordinating under‑seat ventilation and AV tablet monitors so council members can see presentation content at their seats.

Zach Hollenbeck, Deputy Chief of the Bureau of Facilities, and consultants from Washington Professional Services and Michael Graves walked the council through renderings and material samples. The design team emphasized preserving public seating capacity while increasing dais space for council and visiting delegations. Hollenbeck said staff will coordinate AV and IT requirements with Washington Professional and DTCS (county technology staff) as the project moves into detailed drawings.

Council members commented on three tradeoffs: sight lines among council members, costs and lighting. Several members favored the larger, more gradual curved dais because it provides more space for visiting delegations and flexible use of the dais, while acknowledging that the tighter curve option offers closer sight lines among council members at the cost of reduced desk space. Council members also raised comfort issues; multiple members requested under‑seat heating or localized ventilation because the dais area is often perceived as either too cold or too warm.

On lighting, members and the design team discussed balancing camera requirements for broadcast and videography with occupant comfort and inclusivity. Kerrigan and staff said they will work with electrical engineers and Washington Professional to coordinate color temperatures, dimming and fixture placement to improve both on‑camera appearance and in‑room ambience. Some council members and staff suggested exploring options to introduce natural light or visual transparency between the lobby and the room, while noting related security and acoustic tradeoffs.

On cost and timing, Hollenbeck said staff have budgeted $700,000 in project request C0365: \"We're hopeful that we won't need that entire $700,000 for this project,\" he said, while acknowledging final estimates are pending. One council member indicated plans to propose an amendment to reduce that allocation; no formal action was taken at the meeting. The team recommended advancing to construction documents and submitting an intermediate design review to the council before construction. Hollenbeck said construction could be scheduled during the council’s usual December recess, but precise phasing and duration will depend on final scope and contractor scheduling.

The council offered detailed feedback on finishes, the dais curve, nameplate and queuing technology, and assured the design team would coordinate security and facility operations considerations with county security staff. The team will return with updated construction documents and cost estimates for council review prior to any appropriation or award of construction contracts.

The presentation closed with staff confirming next steps: incorporate council feedback, complete construction documents, coordinate AV/IT specifications with Washington Professional and DTCS, issue an intermediate submission for council review, then proceed to procurement and construction scheduling.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Howard - Monthly Meeting - Apr 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Architects presented concept designs to enlarge the dais, improve sight lines and upgrade AV and lighting for the Banneker Room; staff plans to move the design toward construction documents with estimated budget funding of $700,000 in the current request.","taxTitle","Howard County, Maryland","taxId",13634,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6571867,"Howard County officials review bond-rating process, reserve targets after AAA reaffirmation",2617,83000,2700000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3100377-4e8e182f6d7b8b690d6ae6902bcb66d8&start=83&end=2700","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3100377-4e8e182f6d7b8b690d6ae6902bcb66d8/thumbnail_83000.jpg","/articles/6571867/Howard-County/Maryland/Howard-County-officials-review-bond-rating-process-reserve-targets-after-AAA-reaffirmation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6571867-64bdef5a4c220e2685b2242525c6b9b7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176152&Signature=jBJ~TTQ3LfZe8EAymOyEQAAkY~KcAr9Oi8~-8zFP5a8dIPxeOePb3fjATF1ubLTw7h-mm0-0Y6bb982fjO7l~3pnQTmvr04qrIUsbd97pPP8vnkNZliIHiixbQGpwmc8UasF8Lcyue9uYe4uSp~~1mDq1iKQCI4crHPfMKAdn3cNEtqGdsDkkc34Z3xRzqIQSFQNCBDuLnVBWVOUVtQTjwnf4LOJxoUZquaQreIZSgwORtGasD0ngRHwljsgF7PcE1cNdnNDqh~-HICS7k4imKjIwq2Nc67Q3o-KO2KwHsJFBAD6XVlte~fwNWIjQUEFFFf5vG30XYN03Y3LAgxzjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Howard County finance officials explained how the county retains a AAA bond rating and why rating agencies now emphasize larger unrestricted reserves during a discussion at the council's April monthly meeting.

The county’s long-standing AAA rating and recent accounting choices matter because higher ratings lower borrowing costs for county projects and can reduce debt service paid by taxpayers, officials said.

Finance staff walked the council through the agencies' review criteria, noting that the presentation to rating agencies covers financial metrics, budget process, debt and pension funding, and economic diversity. \"Being a triple A county for 28 consecutive years is a huge accomplishment,\" said Rafael Hiller, a finance staff member who led the briefing. Angela Price, deputy director of finance, and other finance staff joined the presentation and answered council questions.

Hiller told the council rating agencies look at multiple items beyond basic financials: fund balance levels, pension funding, other post‑employment benefits (OPEB), debt policy and the county’s long‑term financial management. He said the county follows a charter requirement to hold a minimum fund balance equal to 7% of prior-year expenditures and maintains an internal policy reserve of roughly 3% as an additional buffer. But he warned that one rating agency, Moody’s, has shifted its AAA expectations upward and now looks for unconstrained reserves in the 30%–35% range in many jurisdictions. \"Moody's... the triple a ratio is now 35% or higher,\" Hiller said when council members asked which agency had raised its threshold.

Council members pressed staff on what the change means in practice. Hiller and Angela Price explained that higher required reserves reduce the county’s flexibility: more cash on the balance sheet lowers the need to issue bonds but can constrain pay‑as‑you‑go projects and other near‑term spending. Price noted the county’s general fund balance rose from roughly $208 million in fiscal 2020 to about $475 million in fiscal 2024, driven largely by federal pandemic-era infusions and other one‑time receipts (federal CARES/ARPA and the CLRF were cited). That higher balance currently represents roughly 32% of general fund expenditures, she said, putting Howard County near Moody’s new threshold but below the 35% mark.

Officials also described how the county reports retiree health liabilities (OPEB). Hiller said Howard County carries the full OPEB liability on the county’s financial statements and funds a substantial portion of it each year, which affects the county’s reported funding ratio. He told the council that about two‑thirds (66%) of the county’s OPEB liability is attributable to the school system and that the county has contributed roughly $11 million annually in recent years toward OPEB funding.

Council members asked whether the county could simply use cash rather than borrow if reserves continue to grow. Hiller cautioned that outstanding long‑term bonds and prior financing decisions (including 20‑ and 30‑year issues) mean the county remains a borrower over a long horizon, and that the rating agencies evaluate the county’s historical issuance and fiscal practices, not only the current cash position. He also noted that public‑private partnership (P3) financing for the courthouse included private borrowing for roughly half of the project, and the private component carries a higher interest cost because the private partner lacks taxing authority.

Members asked about timeline and process for the rating review. Staff said the county typically begins internal planning in December, compiles materials and submits documents a week before the rating presentations, and that the agencies review the county’s financial reports and budget book year‑round. Price added that finance coordinates presentations with the county executive and the council chair so the agencies see collaboration across executive and legislative leaders.

Council members also asked about broader economic risks, including potential federal workforce shifts and national market volatility. Staff said rating agencies are monitoring such macro risks and that the county will continue to track impacts on revenue and federal grant flows.

The briefing closed with staff saying they will continue monitoring rating‑agency guidance, coordinate with the county’s financial advisor, and provide updated analysis to the council as conditions evolve.

Taken together, officials described a mix of strengths (consistent AAA history; diversified local economy; recurring OPEB payments) and new pressures (higher reserve expectations from at least one rating agency) that the county must explain to rating agencies and manage in its budgeting and long‑term planning.","County finance staff explained why Howard County retains a AAA rating, how rating agencies assess reserves and liabilities, and how recent federal funding and accounting choices affect the county's fund balance and OPEB reporting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Howard County seeks design approval for Banneker Room upgrades; design documents to proceed

Howard County officials review bond-rating process, reserve targets after AAA reaffirmation