County Council approves $8.9M in savings through building closures and IT changes

The Howard County Budget Work Session held on May 14, 2025, focused on significant cost-saving measures proposed for the upcoming fiscal year. The meeting highlighted a total projected savings of approximately $8.9 million through various internal service funds and operational adjustments.

The session began with a discussion on energy savings, where officials outlined plans to close certain buildings on selected days to reduce energy, custodial, and security costs. This initiative is expected to yield an estimated savings of $400,000. However, some members expressed concerns regarding the practicality of implementing energy-saving days during holidays, questioning the effectiveness of this approach.

Further discussions revealed that the energy savings would amount to 60 business days, equating to about three months of remote work for employees. Officials clarified that this strategy would maximize energy savings by minimizing the ramp-up time for heating and cooling systems.

The meeting also addressed savings from IT expenditures, specifically the elimination of cell phone stipends for county employees, which is projected to save $500,000. Additionally, a review of fleet usage and replacement costs is expected to contribute $3 million in savings, with $2.2 million being transferred into the general fund.

Officials noted that the reliance on fund balance to cover some expenses is not a sustainable long-term solution, but it was deemed necessary to address immediate budgetary needs. The discussion included a commitment to provide further details on the assessment of underutilized equipment and the impact of travel, printing, and training cost reductions, which are anticipated to save an additional $200,000.

In conclusion, the meeting underscored the county's efforts to implement strategic budget cuts while addressing critical service needs. The next steps will involve providing detailed reports on the proposed measures and their anticipated outcomes as the budget development process continues.