Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today unveiled his $2.6 billion Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) operating budget, which reflects a 6.6 percent increase over the prior year. The spending plan contains historic funding for public education, as well as major investments in public safety, health care services, housing, and economic development.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball is seeking consumer, family member and professional applicants interested in serving on the Howard County Local Behavioral Health Advisory Board. The deadline to apply is Friday, May 5th.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball has issued an Executive Order, establishing one of Maryland’s first Blueprint Resources Planning Workgroup. The 12-member, multi-agency workgroup will include representatives from Howard County Government, Howard Community College, the Howard County Library System, the Howard County Board of Education, the Howard County Council and the Howard County State Delegation.

Smart Growth America has given Howard County a 100% score in its 2023 evaluation of the strongest Complete Streets policies in the country, making it the first jurisdiction in the nation to receive a perfect score under their current scoring matrix.

Howard County Government offices, courts, animal shelter, 50+ centers and Alpha Ridge Landfill will be closed in observance of the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 29th. As there will be no Monday curbside trash, recycling, yard trim or food scrap collection on Memorial Day, the County’s holiday "slide” schedule will be in effect for the remainder of the week. 

This budget delivers a historic $1.1 billion in total funding for HCPSS, reflecting a 7% increase of $47 million in recurring county funding to HCPSS, which is the highest increase in county history

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today signed an executive order announcing the members of the inaugural Youth Engagement Leadership Workgroup. The new workgroup, comprised of more than two dozen diverse young people, will ensure young people have a voice on the policies and practices of government, empowering their voices to be heard.  

Columbia was named the sixth “Best City for Summer Jobs” for 2023 by WalletHub, the personal finance outlet. Columbia is the only city from the mid-Atlantic in the top 10.