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Baltimore County Planning Board approves FY2026 capital budget, FY2027–2031 capital program
Summary
At its March 6 meeting the Baltimore County Planning Board approved the Fiscal Year 2026 capital budget and the FY2027–2031 Capital Program and transmitted a recommendation letter to the Office of Budget and Finance, urging consideration of deferred maintenance and prioritizing investment in older communities.
The Baltimore County Planning Board on March 6 approved the county's FY2026 capital budget and the FY2027–2031 Capital Program and transmitted the board's recommendation letter to the director of the Office of Budget and Finance.
Vice Chair Emily Brophy, who chaired the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) subcommittee, summarized the committee's review and recommended priorities, saying, "The planning board suggests that these deferred capital needs be considered in future capital allocations, including investing more capital funds in the county's older communities before building new facilities elsewhere." The board approved the budget and program by roll-call vote; members present voted in favor.
The board's action formalizes the CIP Committee's earlier work. Brophy told the board the FY2026–2031 CIP process began with a citizen input meeting on Oct. 17, 2024, included a presentation by County Executive Kathy Klausmeier on Jan. 16, 2025, and featured agency presentations and staff recommendations in January and February. The Department of Planning presented the staff CIP recommendations to the committee on Feb. 20, 2025, and the subcommittee sent a transmittal letter to the Planning Board on Feb. 28, 2025.
Chair Scott Halepka read the motion on the floor: "Be it moved that the Baltimore County Planning Board approve the FY2026 capital budget and FY2027–2031 Capital Program and accompanying transmittal letter as recommended by the Capital Budget and Program Subcommittee for transmittal to the Director of the Office of Budget and Finance." The motion was seconded and approved by roll call.
Board discussion and the committee's recommendation emphasized that agencies presented significant backlogs and deferred maintenance needs, including road repairs and repaving and deferred maintenance or replacement of infrastructure within county buildings, such as schools, libraries and community college campuses. The board's transmittal letter asks that those deferred needs be considered in future capital allocations rather than prioritizing only new construction.
A county planning staff member identified as Crystal told the board the next Planning Board meeting, scheduled in two weeks, is most likely to be canceled and that staff will provide an update the following week.
With the Planning Board's approval and the transmittal letter sent to the Office of Budget and Finance, the recommendation will be considered as the executive and county budget process advances. The board did not enact specific spending language; the vote forwarded the board's recommended capital appropriation priorities and the accompanying transmittal letter to the Office of Budget and Finance for consideration.
