Howard County Council approves nearly $2 million in year-end appropriations; adopts salary changes and transfers

The Howard County Council on Tuesday approved an ordinance adding $1,964,860 in year-end appropriations across multiple county funds and passed companion budget transfers and a salary ordinance to close fiscal-year gaps.

Madam Auditor read Ordinance 2025-HCCO-53 into the record, detailing line-by-line changes that included corrections to Kinsey Youth Center payroll lines, $25,000 from the Clerk Perpetuation Fund for document-storage service contracts with Document Mountain, a $75,160.80 appropriation tied to the county’s inspection costs for the project on County Road 3300 East, and a request to cover initial invoices for a previously approved jail heat-pump project. "The money’s there — it just needs appropriated," the auditor said while presenting grant-funded items that must be authorized before year end.

The Community Corrections director, Stephanie Cole, told the council those requests largely reallocate existing grant funds and vacancy savings to cover part-time probation officer salaries and to correct where payroll expenses were charged. "I'm using part of [the grant funds] to cover the rest of our part-time salaries for probation officers," Cole said, noting the adjustments are intended as bookkeeping and not to create new recurring general-fund commitments for 2026.

Amber, who represents the Highway Department, asked for several adjustments including $75,160.80 tied to the inspection line for the project on County Road 3300 East and $15,000 for overtime payouts after more employees chose payout over comp time. Speaking about winter operations, Amber said the county’s new brine operations and salt-barn improvements have already improved snow response: "The brine has already made a huge difference" in clearing roads after a recent storm.

Pam and the commissioners’ representative reported that invoices for the previously approved $2.2 million jail heat-pump project began arriving and asked the council to appropriate funds to the equipment-repair line so vendor invoices can be paid while installation — including added steel roof supports — continues, with completion expected in mid to late January.

After presentations, Councilman Faulkner moved to approve the additional appropriations ordinance; Councilwoman Lake seconded, and the council approved the ordinance by voice vote. The meeting record shows similar voice-vote approvals for Resolution 2025HCCR24, which authorizes multiple intra-department transfers (examples include K-9 supplies to travel/training and a $38,740 contract-services-to-equipment transfer in the energy-efficiency block-grant fund), and for Ordinance 2025-HCCO-54, which updates staffing and salary authorizations for 2025.

The council also approved a slate of appointments by voice vote: Beth Harshman (Alcohol and Beverage Commission, one-year appointment), Matthew Seatham (reappointment to the Board of Health), and Richard Mosier (reappointment to the Greentown Public Library board).

The meeting opened with a musical performance by Lucas Farmer, an IT department intern who described 15 years of violin study before playing a hymn and a holiday carol for the council. The meeting closed with councilors commending Council President Daryl Maple for the year’s leadership and then adjourning.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 2025-HCCO-53 (additional appropriations): Approved by voice vote. Key items listed in the ordinance include multiple grant-funded appropriations and corrections; total read as $1,964,860. (Ordinance read by the auditor.) - Resolution 2025HCCR24 (transfers): Approved by voice vote; authorizes intra-department transfers including a $38,740 energy-efficiency block-grant contract-to-equipment transfer. - Ordinance 2025-HCCO-54 (salary ordinance amendments): Approved by voice vote; lists multiple staffing and salary-line changes across probation, detention, highway mechanics, PERF and insurance lines. - Appointments (several boards): Approved by voice vote (Beth Harshman; Matthew Seatham; Richard Mosier).

What this means

Most items approved on Tuesday were year-end housekeeping and cash-flow measures: appropriations and transfers that allow grant-funded work to be paid and allow budget lines to close without going negative. Several items — notably jail equipment appropriations tied to an earlier capital approval — will allow invoices to be paid in the coming weeks as vendor work continues.

The council did not adopt new recurring tax commitments or new programs during the meeting; presenters emphasized many changes use existing grant funds or are single-year corrections to bookkeeping and payroll lines.

Next steps

Staff will process the approved appropriations and transfers so invoices and payroll lines can be covered before the fiscal year-end. The council noted some fund balances (for example, the alcohol and drug user-fee fund) are weak and will be reviewed for 2026 budget planning.