Finance

About

The Department of Finance serves many different customers. This includes residents, businesses, other County agencies, taxpayers, homeowners, County employees, retirees, bond holders, and investors.

Providing excellent customer service, is a key goal in the Finance Department's Mission Statement and includes giving compassionate, friendly and efficient service at all times. The purpose of this web site is to assist our customers to quickly find current and accurate information; however, we continue to encourage phone calls, correspondence or in-person visits to the Finance Department to resolve any issues or take care of business.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Finance is to ensure that the County’s financial resources are collected, protected, invested and distributed in a fiscally responsible manner; and to provide optimal financial services to a wide range of constituents including citizens, taxpayers, businesses, agencies and employees of the County with an effective and efficient team of employees.

To do this, we promise to:

Strengthen the County's financial position and reputation
Deliver compassionate, friendly, and efficient service
Increase staff productivity
Create and implement comprehensive plans and actions to achieve the mission

What would you like to do?

Accounts Payable

The Accounts Payable Division processes the County’s disbursements for all services and products provided by County contracted vendors. The division also processes 1099 forms for payments and interest made by Howard County Government to a vendor/customer

Billing & Payments

Click here to find all the information you need to pay your Howard County bills - online, by mail, or in person.

Financial Information

The reports and official documents provided on this page are intended to give the reader more information about the status of Howard County’s finances. The information is organized by: Audit Information, Bond Information, Investment Policies & Reports

Tax Credits

Howard County provides a variety of Real Property Tax Credits designed to meet the needs of County taxpayers and to promote specific activity that is beneficial to the County as a whole.

Water & Sewer Billing

If you need to pay your water bill or if you have questions about water and sewer services and billing, we have answers to those questions, and more.

Citizen's Election Fund Commission

Revenue Authority

Property Tax Digital Communications

Enroll Now to Receive Email and Text Message Updates on Your Tax Bill

Contact Us

Here is a directory for the Department of Finance:

Department	Office Number	Email Address
Department of Finance Main Office	410-313-2195
Division of Miscellaneous Billing	410-313-3258	miscbilling@howardcountymd.gov
Department of Recordation Tax	410-313-2389	recordation@howardcountymd.gov
Division of Tax Credits	410-313-4076	taxcredit@howardcountymd.gov
Department of Tax Customer Service	410-313-2062	customerservice@howardcountymd.gov
Division of Tax Personal Property (for business accounts and business license inquiries only)	410-313-1160	elicense@howardcountymd.gov
Division of Tax Sale	410-313-2062	taxsale@howardcountymd.gov
Department of Water and Sewer	410-313-2058	billing@howardcountymd.gov

Meet the Team

Rafiu Ighile

Director of Finance

About

Rafiu O. Ighile is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Maryland with an MBA and more than 30 years of accounting experience in government, not-for-profit and for-profit organizations. Mr. Ighile is the Director of Finance for Howard County Government Maryland. Prior to that he was the Director of Finance and Administration for the City of Gaithersburg, where here oversaw the Finance, Budget and Procurement functions. Before joining the City of Gaithersburg, Rafiu worked for Howard Public School System (HCPSS) as their Chief Financial Officer. While working as CFO for the Howard County Public School System, managed Finance, Budget, Benefits, and Technology functions. He previously served as the Deputy Director of Finance for Howard County Government where he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the department. Rafiu served on the Executive Board of Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) and a current member of the Maryland GFOA Board of Directors. He is also a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), a member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and Maryland Association of CPAs. Rafiu and his spouse Eki have six daughters.

Send email