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Spending-affordability panel recommends cautious revenue outlook, smaller GO issuance and prioritizing PAYGO for critical maintenance
Summary
The Spending Affordability Advisory Committee recommended a conservative revenue projection, a $25 million general-obligation bond ceiling for the year and prioritizing PAYGO for essential maintenance, warning that federal and state uncertainties could undermine longer-term revenue growth.
The Howard County Spending Affordability Advisory Committee (SAAC) told the County Council on Wednesday that the county should adopt a cautious revenue forecast for the coming budget cycle, limit new general obligation borrowing and prioritize one-time PAYGO funds for essential maintenance and deferred capital.
The committee recommended the council use a 4% growth assumption for fiscal 2026 revenues and a 3.6% planning target for the five-year 20272031 outlook. "Income taxes are wildly unpredictable," said Todd Atterburn, SAAC vice chair. "Property-tax revenue provides a stable base, but we cannot reliably forecast income tax receipts in this environment."
SAAC also recommended a conservative general-obligation bond ceiling of $25 million for the year, citing the countys desire to preserve its triple-A credit rating. "We are cautioning with a flashing red light on new GO bond issuances because it commits the county over a 20-year period," Atterburn told the council.
The committee…
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