Anne Arundel County Council approves bond package, water and pension measures and several resolutions

The Anne Arundel County Council on July 20 adopted a package of ordinances and resolutions that together authorize county borrowing for FY2027 capital projects, adjust several pension and retirement provisions, and update investment and insurance policies.

Administration representative Ethan Hunt described Bill 51-26 as the county’s annual bond ordinance, saying the ordinance "authorizes the issuance of bond anticipation notes in the amount to be outstanding at any time, not in excess of $900,000,000 and bonds in an amount not exceeding $1,835,225,721" to finance capital projects listed in the FY2027 capital budget. The council passed the measure by roll call, 6–0 with one member absent.

Council members also approved Bill 5,226, which moves six properties into the planned service category in the county’s water and sewer master plan to allow connection to public utilities. Ethan Hunt told the council the interagency review (Planning and Zoning, Public Works, Inspections and Health) recommended moving the amendments forward; the council adopted the bill by roll call, 6–0 with one absence.

On a related utilities matter, the council passed Bill 5,426, an ordinance addressing noncompliant water service lines that creates a tiered cost-responsibility framework and includes means-tested assistance. The council member sponsoring that ordinance described it as intended to balance responsibility between the county and property owners and said the bill aims to target county assistance when the county’s infrastructure likely caused contamination; the measure passed 5–1 with one absent. Administration and Department of Public Works staff told the council they remain concerned that means testing could discourage property owners from requesting testing.

The council adopted Bill 5,626 implementing changes negotiated with public-safety bargaining units that affect DROP accounts, contribution rates and certain reemployment offsets. Personnel staff said the changes reflect FY2027 collective-bargaining agreements; the measure passed 6–0 with one absence.

Resolutions updating the county’s self-insurance and general investment policies and approving estimates for employee and retiree health-benefit costs were approved, as was a resolution to surplus and transfer roughly 3.76 acres on Marbury Drive in Crownsville to the Anne Arundel County Food Bank for a new facility. The council also confirmed nominations to the county library board and reappointed a citizen to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Reconstruction Advisory Group.

There were no public speakers registered on the online tool for the items that received votes, and public hearings for the listed items had no in-person testimony. The council adjourned to its next legislative session on Sept. 8, 2026.

Votes at a glance: Bill 51-26 (Annual Bond Ordinance) — adopted, 6–0 (1 absent). Bill 5,226 (Water & Sewer master plan amendments) — adopted, 6–0 (1 absent). Bill 5,426 (Noncompliant water service lines) — adopted, 5–1–0 (1 absent). Bill 5,626 (Pensions/ DROP changes) — adopted, 6–0 (1 absent). Several resolutions adopting investment policy updates and confirming appointments were also adopted.