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County council approves emergency and fourth‑quarter transfers totaling millions to close FY26 books
Summary
The council unanimously approved three emergency and fourth‑quarter transfer ordinances — Bills 4626, 4726 and 4826 as amended — to reallocate funds across categories for Anne Arundel Community College, the Board of Education, and multiple county departments, including transfers for overtime, self‑insurance and election costs.
The Anne Arundel County Council on June 15 approved a cluster of emergency and fourth‑quarter transfer ordinances to reconcile FY26 spending across the county and school system.
Bill 4626 moved roughly $800,000 within the higher education fund to cover auxiliary and student services adjustments at the community college. Melissa Beardmore of the community college explained parts of the appropriation were a year‑end “true‑up” as the fiscal year closes June 30. Councilors asked whether funds had already been spent; administration said the transfers reclassify expenditures and do not seek new county revenue.
Bill 4726 addressed Board of Education transfers, largely federal and state revenue, and was described by Matt Stansky (Anne Arundel County Public Schools CFO) as a year‑end balancing measure that corrects category allocations rather than add county funds.
Bill 4826 covered a broad fourth‑quarter package across multiple departments. The budget office (Stephen Teru) summarized the largest components: about $6.3 million for overtime and unrealized turnover, $4.3 million to the self‑insurance fund for higher than expected claims, and $2.5 million tied to electricity costs in central services and public works. The package also included election costs (roughly $800,000) and multiple departmental adjustments. Council members probed overtime modeling in police and fire; police fiscal manager Henry Ferrell said the department was only about $500,000 off its overtime projection this year, an improvement over prior years, while fire department leaders cited extended sick leave, increased health insurance costs and apparatus repairs as drivers of the true‑up.
Two amendments to Bill 4826 were adopted: one adding appropriations for the Office of Personnel and Department of Public Works (for background investigations and updated projections) and a second increasing the self‑insurance appropriation by $200,000. The amended bill passed by unanimous roll call.
Council members repeatedly framed the transfers as fiscal housekeeping: reallocations to match actual spending rather than requests for new operating money. Several members said they expect continued attention to overtime modeling and recruitment as structural items for FY27 budgeting.
