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Council introduces tax-credit changes, collective bargaining agreement and bond authorization; approves multiple appointments
Summary
The Howard County Council read in multiple bills including property tax credit changes, a multiyear AFSCME collective bargaining agreement, an emergency CIP amendment and a large bond authorization, and approved a broad slate of appointment resolutions.
The Howard County Council opened its September legislative session with the introduction of multiple bills and the approval of a large slate of appointment resolutions.
Introduced legislation (short titles read on the record) included bills to amend the property tax credit for seniors and retired military personnel (Council Bills 59 and 60 20 25); a multiyear collective bargaining agreement with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Howard County Local 3080 (Council Bill 61 20 25); pay-plan and specialty-pay adjustments related to Local 3080 and corrections staff (Council Bill 62 20 25); an emergency act amending the FY2026 capital improvement program to reflect a net reduction of $179,000 tied to final state school construction aid (Council Bill 63 20 25); a lease approval for Howard County Arts Council space in the Center for Arts, Culture and History (Council Bill 64 20 25); an ordinance authorizing up to $150 million in consolidated public improvement bonds and up to $50 million of metropolitan district bonds (Council Bill 65 20 25); and amendments to HOCO by Design to include the Gateway master plan (Council Bill 66 20 25). The council also introduced several council resolutions, including a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement related to a solar array project (Council Resolution 1 67 20 25) and agenda items addressing easements and utility access for library EV charging (Council Resolutions 1 68 and 1 69 20 25).
On procedural business, the council approved the Journal of the July 30 legislative session and minutes for a July 30 special meeting. The motion to approve the July 30 journal passed with Chair Liz Walsh recorded as abstaining and Councilmembers Doctor Jones, Deb Young and Dave Youngman recorded as voting yes. The motion to approve a slate of appointments (a long list of council resolutions) passed on a consolidated vote; two library reappointments were pulled for separate consideration (covered in a separate article). The council also attempted final consideration of Council Bill 56 20 25 (ZRA 213, age-restricted adult housing) but the motion failed for lack of a second.
The introductions set public hearings for Monday, September 15 at 7 p.m., with a work session scheduled for Monday, September 29 at 9:30 a.m. Written comments may be sent to councilmail@howardcountymd.gov and testimony can be provided in person or virtually via WebEx.
Votes at a glance (selected): - Approval of Journal (07/30/2025) ' passed (Walsh abstain; Jones, Young, Youngman yes) - Approval of minutes (07/30/2025 special meeting) ' passed (same pattern) - Batch approval of multiple appointment resolutions (CR 1 17; 1 18; 1 21; 1 22; 1 23; 1 24; 1 27 through 1 40; 1 44 20 25) ' passed on consolidated vote - Council Bill 56 20 25 (final consideration) ' motion failed for lack of a second
Several items were tabled earlier in the summer and were removed from the table and approved at this session; other items were read for introduction and scheduled for the public hearing on Sept. 15.
