Howard County Council introduces emergency bill to let prior-year surplus support Board of Education FY2026 operating budget

The Howard County Council on the evening of the emergency legislative session voted to add Council Bill 45-2025 to the agenda for introduction as late-filed emergency legislation that would allow the county to use prior-year excess surplus revenue to support the Board of Education's fiscal 2026 operating budget.

Council Chair Walsh moved to add the bill to the agenda and the motion was seconded; the motion passed on a recorded voice vote. Chair Walsh, Dr. Jones, Council member Miss Young and Council member Mister Youngman registered “yes” on the roll call as recorded during the vote.

Council Administrator Mrs. Herd read the bill into the record. “An act to modify the restriction on the use of excess surplus revenue pursuant to section 6-15(b) of the Howard County Charter in order to use excess surplus revenue from prior years to further support the operating budget request of the Board of Education in the fiscal year 2026 budget, providing that this act shall be temporary and shall expire by June 30, 2026, and declaring that this act is an emergency bill necessary to meet an immediate emergency affecting public health, safety, or welfare,” Mrs. Herd read.

Chair Walsh also announced that the council will hold a hybrid public hearing on the legislation on Monday, May 19, beginning at 7 p.m.; the hearing will be available in person and virtually via WebEx and livestream on the Howard County Council website.

The introduction during this emergency session only places the bill on the agenda; the council did not adopt the substance of the measure at this meeting. Next steps specified on the record are the scheduled public hearing and subsequent committee or council consideration after public input.

Details recorded in the session: the bill text references section 6-15(b) of the Howard County Charter, states a sunset of June 30, 2026, and declares the measure an emergency necessary to address an immediate public health, safety or welfare concern. The motion that placed the bill on the agenda was moved by Chair Walsh and seconded by an unnamed council member. The formal vote to add the item to the agenda was recorded as passing; no final vote on the bill's substance occurred at this meeting.