Administration seeks nearly $18.6M in supplemental appropriations; $10.5M to self‑insurance and funds to cover storm response and workforce/SNAP staffing

County administration requested supplemental appropriations totaling $18,613,900 on April 14 to cover insurance claims, workforce supports and storm‑related public‑works costs.

The largest ask — $10,515,000 — would go to the self‑insurance fund to address outstanding claims and maintain fund‑balance policy targets; central services staff said workers' compensation claims rose ~7% year‑over‑year with a larger increase in dollars and that a couple of large general liability payments (~$2.3M) contributed to the pressure on reserves.

The package also included $515,000 for the Anne Arundel County Workforce Development Corporation to staff SNAP‑related work/activity requirements (case managers and JobWorks staffing), an $8,098,900 transfer largely for DPW Bureau of Highways overtime, contractual and materials costs tied to a late January ice/snow event, and $50,000 for the Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families to cover half the salary of an ENOUGH initiative director after state funds fell short.

DPW deputy director Alex Bakier described the storm response: roughly $500,000 of the additional costs were sidewalk and shared‑use path clearing under a new code (about 11 miles of shared‑use path and ~12.5 miles of sidewalk were cleared in challenging conditions), crews prioritized roads first, contractors are shared between roadway and sidewalk work, and the effort required heavy equipment and time‑and‑materials work to remove ice accumulations when salt was ineffective due to very low temperatures. Council members asked for a detailed itemization of overtime vs. contract vs. supplies, and DPW agreed to provide it.

Council did not take a vote in the work session; the supplemental appropriation request was presented and discussed and will proceed through the legislative calendar for formal consideration.