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Library leaders ask Howard County Council to fund $1.7M for wages and services
Summary
Howard County Library System leaders told the council the County Executive's FY2027 proposal includes $1.7 million to cover wage increases, maintain services and support collections; trustees said the library's countywide programs serve infants through seniors and merit full funding.
Tonia Akins, president and CEO of the Howard County Library System, asked the Council to fully fund the County Executive's FY2027 proposal for the library system, including $1.7 million to cover wage increases, negotiated agreements and support for collections.
Akins highlighted early-learning and teen programs, citing nearly 81,000 parents and young children who attended preschool classes last year and program work that reached a large share of the county's 0-to-4 population. Trustee Liz Banick and Friends of the Library representative Tiffany Tupper described the library's role connecting residents across ages and incomes, supporting workforce development, and delivering civic programs.
Trustees said staffing and collection funding are critical to sustaining demand and to retaining services used across the county. They asked the council to adopt the executive's proposed budget so the library system can maintain current offerings and meet growing community needs.
Council members thanked witnesses; the council will review the library request further in the budget process.
