Howard County commissioners pass resolution asking tax council to raise local income tax for jail bond payments

The Howard County Board of Commissioners voted to approve Resolution 2025-BCCR-19 asking the county's local income tax council to consider raising the public safety portion of the local income tax to help fund annual bond payments for a new jail.

A staff member presenting the item told commissioners the request mirrors an action the county council took at its previous meeting and that the local entities (the city and other municipalities) must also agree through their respective processes. "This will go towards making that annual bond payment," the staff member said, describing the request as part of financing a federally mandated new jail.

The board recorded a voice vote approving the resolution. The transcript shows that the board adopted the resolution after a motion and a second; the approval was announced as "That resolution is passed." The item was listed in the board packet as Resolution 2025-BCCR-19.

County staff said further steps will include submission to the tax council; details about a proposed rate and the allocation among municipal governments were not finalized at the meeting. One staff remark in the meeting referenced a proposed 1.3 percentage-point increase discussed among local entities; the speaker also noted there is a statutory cap discussed locally and different jurisdictions must ratify any change.

There was no recorded public hearing on the resolution at this meeting; the board's vote initiates a request that the LIT council consider the rate change at its forthcoming meeting.