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Welcome to our latest District 5 Download, which features information on legislation impacting our county, upcoming Council meetings, and your local government.
Since our last newsletter, the County Council approved the creation of the Office of Inspector General (OIG). The charter amendment that appeared on the November ballot passed allowing the OIG to be placed under the oversight of an independent Advisory Board rather than falling within the Executive branch of county government. The Advisory Board will be in place by April, at which time it will recruit for the Inspector General position itself. More details are included in this newsletter.
The annual budget cycle has begun. This year’s process is already being impacted by the state’s budget crisis, as the state closes its multi-billion dollar deficit by shifting millions in costs to the counties. The County Executive will spend the next two months creating his budget after which it will move to the County Council for hearings and worksessions in April and May.
And if you haven’t heard yet, our energy costs are projected to skyrocket this year. The detailed information and perspective provided later in this newsletter will hopefully be more informative than what is infiltrating social media sites. Because energy policy and regulation happen at the state level, we have provided a link to our state representatives for your feedback or questions.
Please share our newsletter and encourage others to sign up so they can stay informed of what is happening around the community and in county government. Be sure to like the District Five Facebook Page to keep current on news and announcements.
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David Yungmann
Howard County Council, District 5
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Register To Get Development Updates
Directly To Your Inbox
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The Department of Planning and Zoning offers a tool to stay "in the know" regarding development in Howard County. DPZ provides this tool so interested parties can be advised of new projects and community meetings even before anything formal is submitted to the county. Here's the link to sign up for DPZ Notify. You can specify the geographic area in which you are interested or choose to get county wide alerts. If you attend and sign-in at a meeting, you will also be added to the distribution list for that specific project.
DPZ’s Development Plans Search also provides information about projects. There's an “Upcoming Meetings” tab and the site provides the ability to view pertinent documents.
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The process of creating the Office of Inspector General continues to progress. I supported the creation of this office to provide a responsive and independent source of investigating waste, fraud, abuse or other activities. Once the office is functional, anyone from within or outside of government can file a complaint to be investigated. The seven members of the Advisory Board will be announced within a few weeks. That Board will then recruit for and hire an IG who will get the office up and running. | |
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There is certainly no lack of headlines lately regarding increased energy costs in Maryland. These headlines have been met with emotionally driven social media posts and petitions circulating throughout our communities. There are specific increases that Marylanders can expect to see in their most recent bills, as well as future increases as summarized in the below chart. We understand that some county residents are served by other utility providers but hope that this data from BGE will be informative to everyone.
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Increases beyond those outlined above may be a result of homeowners adjusting to the frigid temperatures that we have experienced this winter. BGE has provided tips to consider to potentially lower your energy bill and has also implemented programs to assist with increased costs:
While this information explains the current situation, there are still unresolved issues that will likely cause continued increases. Policies at the State level have favored green energy and have not adequately planned for the shortfalls based on current demand. Old power plants are being retired with no plans to replace them because of these policy choices.
Compounding the issue as we look forward is a push to continue the momentum toward an all electric building code, a policy we are likely to see introduced here in Howard County in the coming months. All of this adds up to pressure on our electric grid, which is already unable to meet the increased demands for electricity. The drain on usage from data centers to power AI is a large contributor to the problem at hand. A letter issued by the Office of People's Counsel provides a summary of the issues.
We are at a critical juncture with the future energy supply in the State. Questions and testimony should be directed to our Howard County Delegation, as well as others in the General Assembly.
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The State of Maryland faces a budget deficit of nearly $3 billion driven by many factors including spending growth related to the Kirwan Blueprint, Medicaid, climate action, childcare, corrections and other programs, stagnant economic growth and revenue failing to keep up with new spending commitments and even simple inflation. While Federal COVID dollars helped to mask some of the issues until now, some of that temporary funding was used to create on-going programs and obligations that are expected to continue.
What does this mean? For many Marylanders, state tax rates and fees will go up. There will also be pressure on local budgets as the state shifts obligations to the counties, yet we know of no tax increases being proposed in Howard County.
The budget woes being felt at the State level, and policy decisions being made through this year's budget will certainly trickle down to the decisions made at the County. You can follow along as the Council works through the County Executive's budget once we receive it in April. The calendar on the County Council website has all budget related worksessions and hearings listed. Please refer to that listing for all dates and possible revisions.
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Howard County Office Of Agriculture | |
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Howard County announced the establishment of an Office of Agriculture in December 2023. This initiative brings the various resources supporting the agriculture industry into one consolidated agency, which will make services more accessible and foster collaboration to advance agriculture priorities. The office is physically located in the Hebb House at West Friendship Park where it will be embedded within the developing county agriculture center and in close proximity to area farms. This is the third such dedicated office of agriculture in the State and its creation demonstrates Howard County's commitment to its fifth largest industry as an economic driver and vital source of locally grown food in and for our community.
The government organizations coming together to create this Office include UMD Extension (which includes 4-H), the Office of Community Sustainability, the Agricultural Preservation Board and Howard County Economic Development, with other groups such as the Farm Bureau and the Soil Conservation District collaborating on initiatives.
One new role of this Office will be coordination, along with Recreation and Parks, of the development and programming of the agriculture center. A workgroup of agriculture leaders convened to scope and prioritize the agriculture center offerings that include spaces for 4-H and FFA livestock projects, meat storage facilities, archery, facilities for demonstrations and education, a western presence for the Roving Radish and continuation of the existing farmland, riding and walking trails.
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Howard County Conservancy | |
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The Howard County Conservancy, a nonprofit founded over 30 years ago, connects people to nature through educational programs and land preservation. It manages a 232-acre historic farmstead in Woodstock as well as over 2,000 acres of county land in permanent conservation.
The Conservancy offers nature education for all ages, including a Nature Preschool, field trips, summer camps, and environmental programs. The site is home to diverse wildlife, and its educational center hosts exhibits and programs that engage the public in conservation efforts.
Did you know that the Conservancy programs extend beyond Howard County? Its nationwide Youth Climate Institute (YCI) offers high school students the chance to work on climate change, certifying them as student ambassadors on climate science and climate action to support their college and career goals. They work directly with environmental scientists and complete action projects, including lobbying for climate legislation, planting trees and encouraging composting programs.
If you haven't already, plan a visit to this hidden gem in District 5!
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Witnessing Traffic Issues?
Did you know the Traffic Enforcement Section of the Howard County Police Department (HCPD) has online reporting for traffic complaints? This tool is for non-emergency issues, complaints and/or requests for new or increased traffic enforcement.
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HCPD depends on all of us to report unsafe practices on all of our roads in the County. These reports allow the police department to compile data and see trends that may ultimately provide the necessary documentation to increase traffic enforcement or other mechanisms to address issues on our roads to keep them safe. | |
Road Enhancement Update
For all updates on major state roadways projects, check the Maryland State Highways Administration website. For county projects in District 5, check our website.
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See Something That Needs Repair? Report Through The County's Online Site/Mobile App. | | |
Did you know that you can report things directly to Howard County Government using Tell HoCo? This is a convenient means of reporting non-emergency road issues, downed trees, repairs and other issues. Tell HoCo is available online or on the App Store or Google Play. | |
Want To Be More Involved
In Howard County?
Howard County Boards and Commissions play an important role in fostering citizen involvement in our government. Opportunities cover a wide variety of topics ranging from the environment, fire and rescue services and cable, just to name a few. A listing of the different boards and commissions can be found on the County website.
Interested residents should send a resume and a brief letter explaining why they want to serve on the Board to: Howard County Government, Office of the County Executive, Attn: Paul Thompson, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043.
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Is Your High School Sophomore Looking For A Leadership Opportunity? | Leadership Howard County is a premier organization focused on preparing, inspiring, connecting and sustaining community leaders to make Howard County the best place to live, work and play. Its Leadership U Program was developed to bring similar insights to high school students. Applications for Fall 2025 are being accepted through April 7, 2025. Click the image for contact information and the online application. | |
Howard Community College will hold a Job and Internship Fair on Thursday, March 6 from 10 am to 2 pm. A QR code is included in the image below to respond. You can click on the image below to register using the link. | |
Looking For Things To Do In Howard County? | | | | |
