Anne Arundel County Council adopts FY26 budget with supplemental amendments, impact fee adjustment

The Anne Arundel County Council on June 13 adopted the fiscal year 2026 annual budget, Bill 33-25, as amended, voting 7-0 to approve a block of supplemental amendments and a subsequent balancing amendment that reduced impact fee appropriations by $7,947,000.

The action finalized a package of 22 supplemental amendments (numbers 55–76) approved in a single block, then adopted amendment 78 as a balancing item to align impact fee revenues with capital project revenue schedules. Budget Officer Chris Trumbauer urged the council to approve the balancing amendment, saying, "So I urge your yes vote, please." The council also heard that 73 pieces of public testimony had been received through the online testimony tool and added to the record.

Why it matters: the amendments reallocate capital and operating funds across county projects, schools and departments and include targeted increases for specific capital projects and personnel costs. Several changes shift funding sources (for example, between pay-go, bonds and interagency commission funds) and add one-time grants and vehicle and equipment appropriations that will affect county operations in FY26.

Most significant amendments included: increases to capital and bond funding for projects such as the Broadneck Peninsula Trail ($2,700,000); funding shifts and additions tied to Old Mill High School totaling $1,759,803 in interagency commission/County bond adjustments; additions for the new police firing range ($565, ... $565,? see clarifying details) and $556,000 and $111,100 to provide funding for eight new sheriff vehicles; an increase of $87,000 plus $11,400 in fixed charges to the Board of Education for national board-certified counselor stipends and additional appropriations for two special education positions; a $90,000 one-time grant for Maryland Hall Creating Communities; and transfers including a $150,000 one-time grant to the Odenton Volunteer Fire Department.

Councilmember Fiedler noted the local impact of smaller amendments in her district: "Those combined amendments were less than $300,000, but will go towards projects in my district that are really important to residents." The budget officer also explained that the council’s recessed period was used to confirm accounting adjustments after the block vote so staff and the auditor could prepare the final reconciliation.

The council voted on the block of amendments (55–76) and then on amendment 78. The roll calls show unanimous support: Councilmembers Radbien, Ledbetter, Smith, Pickard, Volke, Fiedler and Hummer voted "aye" on the actions, with no votes recorded in the negative. After the balancing amendment and final roll call, the chair declared, "Bill number 33-25 as amended has passed."

In addition to the budget ordinance, the council separately considered and passed a series of tax-levy and finance ordinances (Bills 34-25 and 35-25 through 46-25) by unanimous votes; most of those items had little or no substantive discussion recorded during this session.

The council adjourned and scheduled its next regular legislative session for June 16, 2025, at 7 p.m. in council chambers.