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Council approves salary-ordinance amendment adding CASA guardian ad litem funding
Summary
Ordinance 2025-HCCO-17 added a $30,000 guardian ad litem (CASA) staff position and related payroll costs to the 2025 salary ordinance; council approved the change by voice vote.
The Howard County Council approved Ordinance 2025-HCCO-17 on April 22 to amend the county’s 2025 salary ordinance, adding pay and benefits lines for a paid guardian ad litem (CASA) position and associated payroll costs.
The ordinance added $30,000 under the CASA fund for a guardian ad litem staff position, plus FICA ($2,295) and PERF ($4,260) employer contributions. Holly Becker of CASA appeared before the council to explain the new position will specialize in representing children ages 0–5 and will carry a caseload of about 20 to 24 children once fully assigned.
Becker said the position is being funded by a grant and that she will likely return to the council later to request additional appropriations once health-insurance and other benefit costs are settled. She also told the council the program expects to have more children served by paid staff than by volunteers for the near term but prefers serving children immediately rather than keeping them on a waiting list.
“Once she is fully assigned her caseload, she’ll be serving about 20 to 24 children of that age group,” Becker said. The council moved to approve the salary-ordinance amendment, Councilman Alexander made the motion and Councilman Cuthbert seconded; the council approved the amendment by voice vote.
Becker also noted CASA is actively recruiting volunteers and that recent community outreach had produced new volunteer interest.
