Howard County Executive Calvin Ball is looking to leave on a high note with the school system before his second term ends in December.

In his final proposed operating budget, Ball announced that he has set aside $871.5 million for Howard County Public Schools, which covers 99.3% of the school board’s request for county dollars.

“We will be able to fully fund every commitment in the school system budget this year without compromise and without cuts,” Ball said Monday afternoon, praising the collaboration between county and school officials.

The proposed boost in school funding would not require raising property or income taxes on residents and county businesses.

Here are some highlights of Ball’s $2.5 billion spending plan, his last as county executive, as he is term-limited.

Nearly full funding for schools

In recent years, the school system and Board of Education have faced tough budget realities that have forced them to cut beloved programs and eliminate staff positions. But Ball’s proposal means such funding gaps won’t be at the forefront this year.

Superintendent Bill Barnes originally proposed cutting high school science lab aides, librarians and middle school librarian aides in his January budget proposal. Now, he’ll recommend restoring those positions.

Barnes said Monday afternoon that he looks forward to working with the school board and County Council in the coming weeks “to make this budget season a little different than in the recent past … one that also enables us to focus on finishing up and celebrating the school year on a high note, instead of one filled with anxiety or questions.”

Ball also announced that starting salaries for county teachers are nearly $63,000, up from $47,800 during his first year in office. Ball, a Democrat, has held the county’s top job since December 2018.

Secured library jobs

This winter, the Howard County Library System abruptly let go of 55 support staffers for budgetary reasons. Almost as quickly as the terminations were issued, Ball stepped in and provided the library system with enough funds to keep the positions through June 30.

In his final budget, Ball proposes that those 55 staffers, who work up to 10 hours a week and help with tasks such as stocking shelves, would not lose their jobs in two months. His budget protects all library jobs and fully covers the collective bargaining agreement between the library system and Howard County Library Workers United.

Emergency room relief

Before leaving his post, Ball also hopes to provide a final $5 million funding allocation to the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center to expand the county’s single emergency department. The entire $15 million commitment from the county executive is for the hospital’s new 29-bed observation unit to reduce long wait times and improve care overall. Officials have said the unit will “serve patients who are awaiting or undergoing evaluation or testing expected to take less than 24 hours.”

Public safety

Ball is seeking to increase funding for the police and fire departments by $15 million collectively. If approved, the monies would support both departments’ staffing and operational costs, including $540,000 to replace police equipment and provide signing bonuses to help recruit top candidates.

The new dollars would also assist in expanding the Fire Department’s Mobile Integrated Community Health program, which works to reduce nonemergency 911 calls by providing paramedic visits for vaccinations and in-home care to reduce residents’ reliance on emergency services.

Next steps

County residents can weigh in on the operating budget at hearings on April 27 at 6 p.m. and May 7 at 9:30 a.m.

Earlier this month, Ball presented his final $432.6 million spending plan for capital projects. The proposed funding for building and maintaining county properties includes fully funding the school board’s request.

The County Council anticipates voting on both budgets on May 20.