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Howard Community College asks council to back operating budget, warns federal actions could affect students
Summary
Howard Community College President urged the council to support the executive's operating budget request, citing rising costs for benefits and operations and warning that federal policy changes could affect students' eligibility for grants.
Howard Community College (HCC) leaders told the Howard County Council they support the county executive’s FY2026 operating request and asked the council to fund modest employee cost‑of‑living increases and rising operational costs.
HCC President (Dr.) Russell Frisbie Willis (introduced in testimony as Dr. Willis) said the college serves about 22,000 students and more than 2,200 faculty and staff. She urged the council to “fully fund the county executive’s budget proposal for the very best community college in the state and nation,” and described rising employee benefits costs and operating expenses totaling roughly $800,000 in new pressure.
Trustees and workforce arguments
Vivian Moore Lawyer, interim chair of the HCC Board of Trustees, described the trustees’ professional experience and called the college “an anchor institution” that yields professional and economic outcomes for residents. Trustee recruitment and retention of faculty and staff were framed as critical to sustaining workforce training that benefits Howard County’s economy.
Federal and accreditation concerns
Willis also said a recent White House Office of Management and Budget memo and other federal actions could affect students’ eligibility for Pell and other federal supports — particularly part‑time and parenting scholars — and that such changes would force the college to rely more heavily on operating dollars and private fundraising to sustain programs such as its children’s learning center.
Questions and closing
Councilmember Young asked whether the college’s proposed 4 percent cost‑of‑living increase was negotiated with unions; Willis said HCC was “actively negotiating in good faith” and that the 4 percent figure was the proposed COLA. Trustees and the president asked the council to support the executive’s request, saying the modest increases and targeted investments are essential to retain staff and keep local students in county programs.
Ending
HCC leaders asked the council to approve the county executive’s operating recommendation and to treat the college as a strategic local workforce and education asset.
