02-16-2023 Howard Mag - Flipbook - Page 26
G OV E R N M E N T
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball gives his victory speech at his election celebration.
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
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| Winter 2023 | howardmagazine.com
$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 four-year terms.
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.
County Executive
Calvin Ball, Democrat
410-313-2013
CBall@howardcountymd.gov
@HoCoGovExec