Howard County Council approves most of $2.36 million in additional appropriations, tables two items

The Howard County Council on Aug. 26 approved most of Ordinance 2025 HCCO-28, a package of additional appropriations allocating funds among county departments, while removing one large capital item for separate handling and tabling a Superior Court travel request. The council approved the ordinance after removing the cumulative capital development building-repair line and tabling Superior Court 1’s travel and training request.

Staff member Jessica read the ordinance and the original totals, saying the “total additional appropriations for all funds” was $2,356,626.85. Council members later removed the $2,200,000 cumulative capital development fund building-repair item so it could be handled from a different fund and tabled the Superior Court travel request pending further review. After those changes the council secretary reported a revised subtotal of $135,006.26 and 85¢ for HCCO-28 as the items remaining for approval.

The approved items include small increases to the county general fund (examples cited by Jessica: legal settlements $2,070; mental-health levy payment $30,191; EMA equipment $3,844.85), adjustments in restricted highway funds (engineer and equipment-operator lines) and transfers of auction receipts back into departments for replacement vehicles and equipment. Council members asked follow-up questions during the reading, and Commissioner Dodd and department heads explained certain items.

Councilman Frank Faulkner moved approval of the package as presented; Councilman Brian Alexander seconded. The council voted to approve the listed appropriations (except the pulled and tabled items).