02-15-2024 Howard - Flipbook - Page 24
G OV E R N M E N T
Howard County Council members, Liz Walsh, Opel Jones, Christiana Rigby, Deb Jung and David Yungmann during a County Council meeting.
PHOTO BY JEFFREY F. BILL
H
oward County’s government operates a
school system, a police department with
nearly 500 sworn officers, a fire department, a water and sewer system, a landfill
and six branch libraries that have the highest per-capita circulation rate in the state.
The county raises money principally from property and income taxes and employs more than 3,300
people. The general fund, which supports most
government services, totals more than $1.3 billion.
Howard County has promised $45 million in new revenue in 2023 to the public school system, which is overseen by seven elected members of the Howard County
Board of Education. The school system employs
more than 8,500 people and serves more than 57,000
students. Additionally, the 2023 Capital Improvement
Program calls for $105.9 million for school construction projects, including a new high school.
County Executive Calvin Ball and members on the
five-seat County Council were elected in 2022 for fouryear terms.
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| Winter 2024 | howardmagazine.com
Columbia Association
The Columbia Association is a private, nonprofit
corporation that resembles a local government, recreation business and civic organization rolled into one.
Its board of directors is elected by property owners and
the residents of Columbia’s 10 villages.
Supported by two major revenue sources – annual
property owners’ fees and membership fees charged
for programs and services – CA operates a broad scope
of facilities such as parks, pathways, pools, tennis
courts and golf courses, and maintains nearly 3,600
acres of open space, including 95 miles of walking,
jogging and biking pathways.
CA owns all the village community association
offices and neighborhood centers, and its covenants
filter down to the neighborhood level. Each Columbia
village has its own community association and resident-elected village board, which addresses neighborhood issues and can serve as advocates on behalf of
residents.