Compensation Review Commission approves report, adds 2.5% 2027 increase for county executive

The Howard County Compensation Review Commission voted unanimously Dec. 17 to approve its final report, including an amendment to set the county executive's 2027 starting salary at 2.5% above the 2026 amount.

The commission's staff presenter, Owen, told members he had "added a paragraph briefly explaining the commission's decision on their preliminary recommendations," noting the change explained advice taken from County Council. Owen said he would obtain the chair's signature and transmit the approved report to the County Council the next morning; he said the legislation would be introduced in January and that a public hearing was set for Tuesday, Jan. 20.

Why it matters: the report establishes the commission's recommended pay schedule for elected officials and related stipends ahead of Council consideration. Commissioners debated how to apply cost-of-living adjustments for the initial year of the county executive's term and whether to specify the CPI series used to calculate future increases.

The discussion centered on whether the salary baseline for a newly elected county executive should use a pre-set initial floor and which Consumer Price Index series would drive future adjustments. Commissioners and staff referenced the Washington-Baltimore / Baltimore-Towson CPI series as the regional measure the draft used for the calculation.

A commissioner moved "to change the language for 2027, for the county executive, to include a 2.5% increase over the '26, 2026 number," and the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The report also confirmed a $100 per-meeting stipend for zoning board members who also serve as county council members; commissioners said that item had been reviewed previously and no change was requested. Staff member Amanda and other commissioners clarified that the pay schedule covers the officeholder's term from when the executive takes office (the December/January transition) and that the four-year cycle reflected the term of office running from December 2026 through the end of that term.

Formal approval: the chair moved to approve the Compensation Review Commission report as amended. The chair then called the roll; Ellen Flynn Giles, Scott Houtens, Rashida George, Ginny Gick and Kia Payne each answered "Aye." The commission recorded the approval as unanimous among members present.

Next steps: Owen said he would transmit the signed report to County Council and that Council would introduce legislation in January and hold a public hearing on Jan. 20. He asked that at least Chair Ellen Flynn Giles attend the hearing to provide the commission's testimony.

The commission noted it is technically convened until April but that members did not expect another meeting; the chair moved to adjourn and members closed the session with holiday greetings.

The principal motions and outcomes from the meeting were: approval of Dec. 3 minutes; adoption of amended language specifying a 2.5% 2027 increase for the county executive; and final approval of the Compensation Review Commission report as amended. All recorded votes were unanimous among members present.