County administration asks council to approve $4.2 million in second-quarter transfers; waste strike drove emergency curbside costs

Ethan Hunt, representing the county administration, told the Anne Arundel County Council on March 11 that Bill 19-25 would approve a series of second‑quarter transfers and supplementary appropriations for fiscal 2025 to reconcile unanticipated costs and fund department priorities.

Hunt said the ordinance would appropriate $481,600 from unappropriated fund balance in the community development fund to reimburse the FY23 Emergency Rental Assistance Program; $598,500 from the Farmington Village Special Tax District Fund tied to bond redemption and a general fund transfer; $769,000 from the Waste Collection Fund for emergency curbside collection after a contractor strike; $2,960,100 in the general fund transferred from CAO contingency to the Department of Public Works for snow removal; and $400,000 in the library fund from unappropriated fund balance for library operational needs and expansion items.

Christian Bender and Rich Bowen of Public Works told the council the curbside emergency cost arose after Ecology Services’ workers went on strike; the county arranged emergency service coverage and later rebid service areas. Bowen said the contract’s force‑majeure language meant the county could not recoup strike‑related costs from the contractor. The total emergency contract exposure cited in discussion was about $8.4 million before savings and grants were applied. Administration witnesses said about $3.0 million of that exposure was avoided because the county did not pay striking contractors for time not worked; $3.3 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds were available; and net shortfall after offsets was roughly $700,000, which is the amount requested in the transfer.

Hunt said the administration has added a new clause to future contracts requiring successful bidders that use union labor to have a labor agreement covering the same term as the county contract so a future strike does not create the same coverage gap.

Councilmembers asked for more detail on the farmington special tax district appropriation; Hunt explained the district paid off a bond (about $500,000) and excess revenue (about $100,000) reverts to the general fund. Library leaders said $200,000 in the library fund appropriation would cover a previously unbudgeted outside labor attorney related to unionization matters and other library priorities.

Councilmember Volkke questioned the force‑majeure outcome and called it disappointing; Public Works staff described contract and procurement changes meant to reduce future risk. The council did not take a final vote during the work session; administration staff were present to answer follow-up questions.

No formal vote on the ordinance was recorded at the work session; the bill will return for council action on a legislative agenda.