Howard County Council approves appropriations and transfers, including $2.02M preparedness grant and new poll books

Howard County Council on Oct. 28 approved a package of additional appropriations, transfers and salary-ordinance amendments that will fund election equipment, training and a $2,020,000 public health preparedness grant.

The council approved Ordinance 2025-HCCO-43, which the auditor read as requesting $70,691.25 in additional appropriations across several funds, including $45,000 in the county general fund for election equipment and $20,000 in the PEP grant fund for a part-time preparedness coordinator and supplies. The measure passed on a voice vote after a motion by Councilman Faulkner and second by Councilman Alexander.

"I'm here to ask for $45,000 to help purchase new poll books for the election," County Clerk Debbie Stewart told the council, adding that vendor support for the existing poll books will end Dec. 31, 2025. Becky, an ES&S representative, demonstrated the vendor's tablet-style poll book and said the product "rotates the screen orientation to the voter" and includes updated software called ConnectNow to support opening/closing checklists and on-demand ballot printing.

Stewart said the county is replacing roughly 50 units and that the total cost for the poll-book units, license and implementation is about $77,230; the $45,000 appropriation will offset transfers the clerk said she intends to make from unused election salary lines. ``We are staying with the ballot on demand,'' Stewart said, and the new equipment "will work with all the other existing equipment and features that you guys already use."

The council also approved a transfer package (Resolution 2025-HCCR-20) that reallocated funds within multiple departments, and Ordinance 2025-HCCO-44, a salary amendment that reallocated stipends and overtime lines (including increases to correctional officer overtime) to match staffing changes. Both measures passed by voice votes.

On personnel-related appropriations, Sheriff Asher asked the council to approve a commissary-funded $2,500 service bonus and associated FICA for a lateral transfer correctional officer; the auditor included that item in the additional appropriations listing. CASA program director Holly requested a $3,000 grant deposit for travel and training from Drug Free Howard County funds and updated the council on volunteer recruitment and training requirements.

Public health officials asked the council to appropriate a $2,020,000 fiscal-year grant for Public Health Emergency Preparedness, which the county invoices for after expenses are incurred. Vest, the preparedness lead, said the award is broken down into salary, FICA and supplies and is effective July 1 of the fiscal year.

Council members discussed lifecycle expectations for the poll books (Stewart and ES&S estimated a 5–10 year useful life), printer compatibility with on-demand ballots and secure network requirements for vote centers. The council approved the combined package by voice vote. "Motion's been properly made and seconded ... All those in favor ... Aye," the president said as the ordinance carried.

Implementation notes: the clerk said the county will order equipment immediately, begin software loading and testing, and train election workers before the next election cycle. The PEP grant is invoiced post-expenditure and the county's budget was already approved by the state for that grant.

Votes at a glance:

- Ordinance 2025-HCCO-43 (additional appropriations): motion by Councilman Faulkner, second by Councilman Alexander; voice vote carried. - Resolution 2025-HCCR-20 (transfers): motion by Councilman Alexander, second by Councilman Roberts; voice vote carried. - Ordinance 2025-HCCO-44 (salary ordinance amendments): motion by Councilwoman Lake, second by Councilman Sanders; voice vote carried.

Speakers (selected): Debbie Stewart, County Clerk; Becky, ES&S representative; Holly, CASA director; Vest, Public Health (PEP); Sheriff Asher; David Granger, Coroner.

Community relevance: the appropriations affect election operations (countywide), public-health preparedness activities and corrections staffing. The clerk said the poll-book replacement is required because vendor support ends Dec. 31, 2025; the PEP funds are a fiscal-year grant and must be invoiced after expenses.

Provenance (transcript evidence): topic introduction — "Ordinance number 2025DashHCCODash43...County general fund election equipment, 45,000" (auditor reading, transcript start 483.25); topic finish — Clerk: "So we're we're ready to go...we can get them ordered" (Debbie Stewart, transcript start 1311.9451).