[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6563259,"mediaKeyId","3231251-f4b665f9d631e03771a8b110eed8e483","parentId",3231251,"title","Council presses county on $430 million Safe & Sound Ellicott City package; officials cite $110 million funding gap","audioSeconds",900,"startMs",15540000,"endMs",16440000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3231251-f4b665f9d631e03771a8b110eed8e483&start=15540&end=16440","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3231251-f4b665f9d631e03771a8b110eed8e483/thumbnail_15540000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6563259/Howard-County/Maryland/Council-presses-county-on-430-million-Safe-Sound-Ellicott-City-package-officials-cite-110-million-funding-gap","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6563259-543571a13b21e777baf62f13111d8094/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436624&Signature=DMQaFrfeb5cUuci~YNoZ6d4VojkK9Alc7ruSlBrpzrjZ9SMKx4qLmI-FvlM4K54EllnosQBemuVq7hRjyUo3Mmk2o~QHM4xBO5kqcy~q1VFfvKghMx6pFm9E8v5A8DPra7nsluYCGwyMCZskBtZFFZUDud6-o0KRjJsj5acctFIB~dPKuYdj4QwQg16EBrFRc80v02gI-fMiZJV53cW6HAoUBYSdWn78KCs~1vYxvXFs3IjwZWz2Ojh28c83Ylbd2UCRnCBBNtuuPoaZc6N4YTvFzwBIas8gBtpC56DyINUhozkxpeooBYqx48fJRuVR9RWXXUh72rdYYXZGmi53bg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Howard","date","2025-05-07T00:00:00Z","article","(Editor’s note: council members and staff used the program name “Safe & Sound” to describe a package of seven Ellicott City flood mitigation projects presented to the council.)

County capital staff told the Council that the interconnected Safe & Sound projects — including the extended North Tunnel, Maryland Avenue culvert, Rogers Avenue and other channel and building work on Lower Main Street — together carry a total planning estimate of roughly $430.5 million in current‑dollar terms. Project managers said $226.8 million of program spending is already recorded as spent or encumbered; adding FY26 appropriations and pending allocations would bring total authorized spending to about $320.6 million and leave a funding shortfall near $110 million for the full program.

Project breakdown provided to the council included the following elements (spending/encumbered and total project estimate): Quaker Mill (complete) $3.5 million; H7 (channel/related work) $5.4 million; H4 (in design/construction this year) $7.8 million; North Tunnel $168.6 million encumbered (Kiewit Trail road contract line includes a $141 million construction award); Lot F (a downstream collection basin and ancillary tunnel) estimated $45 million total with $20 million available now; Rogers Avenue drop shaft $13 million; Maryland Avenue culvert estimated at about $59.7 million with around $10 million already encumbered; and smaller project lines including T1 and C3 and lower‑Main building removal/rehab items (project totals listed to council’s slide set).

County staff said the extended North Tunnel remains the program’s largest line item and that, if fully constructed with the current alignment, the main stem — from Papillon Drive to the river — would be funded by current appropriations and the FY26 request, with available grant and state loan sources assigned to that work. The county said it has sufficient appropriation to complete the main stem of the tunnel and the CSX track work required under current assumptions, but the county cautioned officials that removing the remaining items (Lot F, Rogers Avenue, Maryland Avenue full construction and other add‑ons) would require additional funds.

Council members asked whether the tunnel could be built in stages and whether work deferred now would be significantly costlier later. Project staff said demobilization and re‑mobilization of heavy tunneling equipment would increase future costs and that the department would prefer to sequence work to avoid repeating mobilization costs, but acknowledged inflation and market changes would likely raise the price of any future phases.

At the meeting, county staff acknowledged gaps in the council’s earlier access to project‑level funding data but provided the chart of encumbered spending and total planning estimates in response to council requests. Staff said they would provide more detailed fund‑by‑fund breakdowns on request (local appropriations, state bond initiatives, revolving loans and federal potential funds) and run comparative hydraulic models showing the incremental benefit of each major element against the baseline — to show how depth and velocity on Lower Main change with and without each project component.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Howard - Budget Work Session - Operating #2 - May 07, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Howard County staff told the County Council the Safe & Sound Ellicott City capital package now totals roughly $430.5 million in current planning estimates and that, after FY26 appropriations, approximately $320.6 million would be available — leaving a funding gap of about $110 million.","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},6563266,"Fire and Rescue requests modest increase; highlights whole‑blood, staffing gains and apparatus backorders",285,4339000,4624000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3231251-f4b665f9d631e03771a8b110eed8e483&start=4339&end=4624","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3231251-f4b665f9d631e03771a8b110eed8e483/thumbnail_4339000.jpg","/articles/6563266/Howard-County/Maryland/Fire-and-Rescue-requests-modest-increase-highlights-wholeblood-staffing-gains-and-apparatus-backorders","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6563266-b36caad5a55693883334437f1e7eb661/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436624&Signature=C8Ox4dS2iD4HlKYYtvRNz0a1haXJ5bIywIZZouT7wXjNN1wSGjjRT2GYRP8TVw4XKA6Fdg~GguSe3~wt2RTiozEQsIT0GsWLuz7XBJFZGXj~0M4yuXqhkKFtaMxhfU9i5rwUW4n6MEMw4UglgxTsoNRVHLuSMhS-3NCigxGRn8upuVkW2MmEAq0Tx8HMWj-AtL9oFFYdRWldtEtlhPGrlWXfSA3bxzZlNG~JmH3Sxpp1k40rRmMeY-dJrHl4LrN81mIF6JVh6QX9Kw1zD8~GAcpPj5wCXCSEsjxvYJtPyEMKh0O7U7pv3HJyjGvzLQqjafeBTEOVJ9-EzUrfaE3M8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Howard County Fire and Rescue Services asked the County Council to approve a $163,373,463 FY26 operating budget that department leaders described as largely “maintenance of effort,” emphasizing safety, wellness, and sustaining an all‑hazards response system.

Chief Winston and Deputy Chief Wallace said the department completed a training class set to graduate in August that they expect will bring staffing to the NFPA 1710 recommended levels pending retirements. “This progress … reduced first responder fatigue” and contributed to a 6 percent reduction in overtime from 2020 to 2024, the department said.

The department described medical and clinical advances in its emergency response: the county’s ground‑based EMS system is an early adopter of a whole‑blood program for prehospital care. Speakers said crews administered 34 units of whole blood to 29 patients, and they reported a high survival rate among those who demonstrated certain clinical indicators (speakers gave a 91 percent survival figure for a subset of patients who received blood prior to cardiorespiratory arrest and 72 percent overall survival for the described group).

Chief Winston and staff also outlined the mobile integrated health program that works with aging and social‑service partners to reduce repeat calls and hospital usage among high‑utilizers. Officials cited internal program metrics: an 80 percent reduction in 911 calls for targeted users, a 71 percent reduction in emergency‑room visits and a 70 percent reduction in hospital admissions for the cohort engaged by the program.

The department requested one new position for the Office of Emergency Management — a Senior Administrative Analyst — to support climate resilience and continuity work. Leaders also warned of procurement lead times and price increases of 15–20 percent for vehicles, apparatus and some medical supplies. Fire requested modest capital and continuing funding to keep apparatus on a replacement schedule; speakers said 13 new ambulances, 12 new engines and other apparatus have been added since 2019 but that some units remain on backorder.

Council members asked how the department is preparing for reduced federal grants and FEMA funding uncertainty. Deputy Chief Wallace and the Office of Emergency Management director said federal and state grant programs are under review; they described several grants and programs that support emergency preparedness and volunteer apparatus — and said they are monitoring evolving federal policy and court rulings that may affect eligibility or amounts.

Chief Winston thanked the council for recent hiring and training support and said the department would continue to monitor grant availability and adjust plans if federal or state funding landscapes change.","Fire Chief Winston presented a $163.4 million FY26 operating request that aims to sustain service while addressing equipment lead times, personnel wellness and training; the department said staffing is improving and cited a whole‑blood program and mobile integrated health metrics.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6563270,"Howard County Police seek to sustain patrol, add school resource officer and tech funding in FY26 budget",878,787000,1665000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3231251-f4b665f9d631e03771a8b110eed8e483&start=787&end=1665","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3231251-f4b665f9d631e03771a8b110eed8e483/thumbnail_787000.jpg","/articles/6563270/Howard-County/Maryland/Howard-County-Police-seek-to-sustain-patrol-add-school-resource-officer-and-tech-funding-in-FY26-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6563270-bf2f4aa45957e95d566bd45deb4d29fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436624&Signature=YlecXU14Byhheg~EfSIjLDU8XPiCA6Tlh-0Znw9dmjKhX2iR6vLNoah16~lf90MzGwOKbAnq4bONSJg1SvzKurDOTXL9kGUGdUY1XWyTRfvTwZgZMBqYUWrxjkO-lLNEIB48yvPt39922NZ4Ag8uxVYLBtVqE-NejvkwFb5ZMFqQzxaCYV4L6W3VTbhsSiB5mwZdHbPJU2Z6M50B-oA8bGx5mfkGiBCl9zKYYbKHrvVC-YJUUIvXk-R6Gc8FZ5rBvxLxwK33pYV2um2U3f~RW3zO169hwAlwUzFPQLgIBOm~pNNVkbUyeXAfT0pJ1Pr5hqshzpoCfP4uT3ColJSmLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Howard County Police Chief Gregory Durr asked the County Council to approve a $162,820,809 operating budget proposed for fiscal 2026, telling members the department has prioritized maintaining service levels while managing rising costs.

The department’s personnel costs are its largest line item — “just over $135,000,000,” Durr said — representing roughly 84 percent of the request. Durr said the department continues to recruit and retain sworn and civilian staff with expanded outreach, targeted advertising and “fast track” hiring events.

The budget includes one additional school resource officer (SRO) to staff Guilford Park High School as it reaches full enrollment next year. “Per NASRO … one SRO per 1,000 students is the national standard,” Chief Durr said, and Guilford Park will be “close to 2,000 students” at full build-out. Durr said the new SRO will be dedicated to that high school and not shared across other schools; he said the Board of Education has been kept informed and is supportive.

Council members pressed on overtime and one‑time expenditures. Budget director Sean Hollywood told the council the FY26 request includes about $12.5 million for overtime. The chief said department overtime dropped from roughly 18,000 hours in 2024 to about 9,000 hours in 2025 after new hires arrived, but that unpredictable investigations and major cases continue to drive overtime costs.

The police request also reflects ongoing contract costs with Axon for body‑worn cameras and records management (about a $1,000,000 increase in services was cited), and a FY26 PAYGO request to buy firearms and equipment and to top up some one‑time items purchased last year — including ammunition stockpiles purchased to avoid supply‑chain shortages. Chief Durr said some purchases listed as ‘‘one‑time’’ (body and vehicle equipment, for example) were chosen because of supply and price volatility; Sean Hollywood said some items were classified as PAYGO to reflect that timing.

Council members asked about ballistic vests, a state matching grant, and PAYGO funding for upgrades; Hollywood said some state grant funding is intermittent, and county match funding was included in PAYGO to ensure timely outfitting and fitting for new officers. Chief Durr said the department will outfit new specialized units and the repeat‑offender division with fitted vests.

The council also discussed enforcement programs funded from special revenue — speed‑camera and school‑bus camera programs — and asked about trends and how revenue is handled. Major department staff said bus camera revenues are trending down (which officials said is the desired behavior change) while the speed‑camera revenue varies based on the number of cameras deployed and the locations; the county currently has seven speed cameras and is requesting authorization for an eighth under state limits. Hollywood noted the speed fund budgets conservatively to ensure spending authority if revenue increases.

The department said it continues to seek federal and state grants for programs such as violent‑crime prevention and technology upgrades, and officials said they monitor federal funding risks but have not yet received formal notice of cancellations affecting their FY26 expectations.

The chief and his command staff stayed to answer detailed questions from council members about ammunition procurement, the CAC relocation, paygo allocations, retention bonuses, vehicle and fleet choices, and the role of specialized units (drones, crime analytics, a Downtown Columbia crime‑reduction unit and partnership patrols with state parole/probation staff).","Police Chief Gregory Durr presented a $162.8 million FY26 operating request that focuses on personnel, recruitment, expanded school resource officer coverage at a new high school and ongoing technology contracts — while asking the council for continued use of one‑time funds for equipment and retention/recruitment bonuses.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6563250,"Corrections requests small operating increases as it cites mental‑health unit, overtime and supply costs",158,6776000,6934000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3231251-f4b665f9d631e03771a8b110eed8e483&start=6776&end=6934","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3231251-f4b665f9d631e03771a8b110eed8e483/thumbnail_6776000.jpg","/articles/6563250/Howard-County/Maryland/Corrections-requests-small-operating-increases-as-it-cites-mentalhealth-unit-overtime-and-supply-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6563250-0cfec1b90ed75577df0fb6ad97775f23/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436624&Signature=RYeAYWQwCmiAWjvp3R5eLQdFK1FIMRt~PoGNHapXlRnPOf3r~rumXCCO~6VbpOdyOj2qcNAB0olfdVjG07L3l-22L2ZV2OA2DlM8VgYwmMOLBmjHmQ0kTdpVoQWmzgRMGnCPqpA1cwIb3LJU4Iw3iR23WurWCIvQdcrZitKzoH6N0LYrTPAFZc4TthkIkoBb83yyJJzrmGPpCbj1ofdDKL2RAqHFK3dgaNxGfu8-B~bmIam726GeuycXvatAB3~2uXpd0xpF8A3jZ7P7lZrp7wKFb6JYD0s5G8L9WBTyCo2rsiKk5C-Iwryw-VjCQKafj1rEiybIfbXmGYIU~chpAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Director Chip Chippendale and deputies presented the Department of Corrections FY26 operating request and described operational pressures tied to a larger incarcerated population, training and accreditation standards.

The department asked the council for modest operating increases including roughly $80,000 for overtime, $66,000 for dietary costs driven by food‑price increases and population growth, $33,000 for clothing and uniforms for incarcerated people and staff and about $20,000 for janitorial supplies. Director Chippendale said overtime fluctuates with disability leave, staff vacancies, mandated training and hospital transports.

Chippendale noted the department launched a dedicated mental‑health housing unit during the past year and said the step addressed behavioral‑health needs and improved care and facility safety. He also described equipment upgrades — new weapons and ballistic vests — aimed at staff safety for transports and hospital assignments.

The department said it completed reentry and accreditation work and reported low recidivism metrics (department figures cited a 3% three‑year reconviction rate in 2024 and a 4% rate projected for 2025). Staff told council members the corrections reentry program begins at intake and follows participants for up to 18 months after release with job and education supports.

Councilors asked about gift‑card payments used for staff meals, hospital runs and parking; Deputy Greg Smith said the department is moving toward alternative payment mechanisms (PDQ card) and has already changed some procedures to limit gift‑card use. Officials also discussed contracts for US Marshals housing and the variability of reimbursement revenue from federal partners.

Director Chippendale said the department is pursuing a long‑range plan: a new detention facility remains a multi‑year, multi‑decade effort with anticipated planning and design to address capacity (planning scenarios discussed projections up to 580 inmates over 10–20 years), program space, medical and mental‑health facilities and facility modernization.","The Howard County Department of Corrections told the council it plans a modest FY26 operating request to cover overtime, dietary and clothing increases tied to higher population and costs; officials highlighted a new mental‑health housing unit and accreditation progress.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6563256,"DPZ trims FY26 operating request, advances Route 1 and APFO work amid staff constraints",431,8509000,8940000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3231251-f4b665f9d631e03771a8b110eed8e483&start=8509&end=8940","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3231251-f4b665f9d631e03771a8b110eed8e483/thumbnail_8509000.jpg","/articles/6563256/Howard-County/Maryland/DPZ-trims-FY26-operating-request-advances-Route-1-and-APFO-work-amid-staff-constraints","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6563256-14f466e9500a7ec155bbcd9ab28fc30f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436624&Signature=kTk7Gi61EZiZcegFz~jeitft5iWzjppy0D-y2HtKLIhEir14bfKEMad5bcAlkgpJHsN4fTgsNU3Lsh91zYLlBYf84d4fA6m9WJfLZElz6u~kUi~niqNkVpkd3qIuxEf87~5-nsPdLx2fgX1Fj1z1XLUV~fPNGm5fd-IQKYOsVVd1CpfSt9FJJMtjl7jehBbEzvh5ke6XiVD0LZtFGpEIKEg2xJAp78Meq-QEHfKLYbEWWYXmWiDh41Z2H4KLCUp-LWJctOxR1PMppCmKo5HncPM0SCi2tuNJve4riLFENAOV~xxngpmtFTos70ledtZqM0WnamKo11ciBS3upytFMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Department of Planning & Zoning Director Eisenberg told the County Council that the department’s FY26 general operating budget is roughly $287,000 less than the prior year, mostly because of an updated DTCS chargeback inventory and the temporary freezing of three vacant positions in engineering, land development and resource conservation.

Eisenberg said the department continues to implement HOKO by Design — a major county planning initiative — and praised the county’s recent award from the National Association of Counties for related work. DPZ said it has completed outreach and technical work on multiple fronts and is preparing an APFO (Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance) report; the department scheduled a second public hearing for the APFO work for May 20.

The department also described a work program that will proceed in FY26 if resources allow: a Route 1 and Route 40 design manual update (consultant selection imminent), a landscape manual update (public and stakeholder engagement in progress), a gateway master plan and an online zoning‑navigation tool. DPZ staff said Route 1/40 manuals would likely take 12–18 months once a consultant is selected and that the Route 1 update will be coordinated with HOKO by Design and the Route 1 corridor plan.

Council members questioned personnel, enforcement and the timing of universal design guidance. Director Eisenberg and deputy staff said three specific vacancies were held for budget savings after a prior year reshuffling of positions; the department said the frozen roles are an engineering specialist, a planner position and a historic/resource planning specialist and described the internal promotions that led to those openings.

Members pressed on zoning enforcement and alternative compliance (waiver) processes. DPZ explained that technical staff from DPZ, Department of Public Works and other agencies review alternative‑compliance requests; the county’s waiver process is administrative and includes a staff technical assessment, interagency review and a recorded approval/denial. The department said staff would provide the council the formal list of task‑force appointments for the New Town (task force) effort and the APFO final materials after the May 20 hearing.

Eisenberg said DPZ plans to use a mix of prior year PAYGO funds and FY26 work‑program money for several consultant projects and that the department hopes to complete several plan and manual updates by late 2026.","The Department of Planning & Zoning presented a modestly smaller FY26 operating budget driven by chargeback updates and three frozen positions; staff highlighted HOKO by Design implementation, an upcoming APFO public hearing May 20 and plans to update Route 1/Route 40 design manuals and the landscape manual.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council presses county on $430 million Safe & Sound Ellicott City package; officials cite $110 million funding gap

Fire and Rescue requests modest increase; highlights whole‑blood, staffing gains and apparatus backorders

Howard County Police seek to sustain patrol, add school resource officer and tech funding in FY26 budget

Corrections requests small operating increases as it cites mental‑health unit, overtime and supply costs

DPZ trims FY26 operating request, advances Route 1 and APFO work amid staff constraints