Expanding school capacity and acquiring lakefront property for a new central library are among the county’s top funding priorities in the coming fiscal year.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball kicked off budget season Wednesday by releasing part one of a two-part spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year — his final budget cycle before he reaches his term limit at the end of December.

Ball said he “carefully crafted” this year’s $432.6 million proposal for capital projects — a fancy way of saying building and maintaining county property. That’s about a 16% increase from his capital proposal last year. The county still hasn’t released its operating budget proposal for things like salaries and programs.

Last year, Ball proposed a $2.3 billion operating budget, which included $100 million in spending cuts to mitigate “extraordinary fiscal headwinds” at the federal and state level.

Those cuts made for a lively budget cycle and left elected leaders with some difficult choices, particularly when it came to education.

With another possible budget showdown on the horizon, here’s everything you need to know about this year’s capital budget proposal.

How much is going toward education?

Ball’s proposal fully funds the capital funding requests for the school system, Howard Community College and the Howard County Library System, which add up to about $116.6 million.

That’s in line with the past four budget cycles. However, the county is shouldering a much larger share this year — about $32 million more — in part to make up for reductions in state and federal contributions.

The proposal earmarks money for 195 new seats and other improvements at Oakland Mills Middle School; 136 new seats and renovations at Dunloggin Middle School; deferred maintenance at Patapsco Middle School; as well as the planning and construction of a new elementary school that would add 490 seats to the county’s southeast area.

County officials noted that they will continue making moves to secure land for a high school in Elkridge, though that’s not included in this year’s request. The county recently got the state’s approval to convert another 29 acres of Troy Park for Elkridge’s future “High School 14,” bringing the total space to 49 acres.

Another high-profile project included in Ball’s budget is the new central library branch along Columbia’s lakefront, which got the County Council’s approval in December. Officials say they have scaled back the total estimated budget for the project by 10% and set aside $7.5 million in anticipated state and federal funds this year for a conceptual design and land acquisition.

Where else is the capital funding going?

Public safety, community and county facilities, flood control, infrastructure and transportation, to name a few categories.

Ball’s administration wants to put $8.5 million aside for the Department of Fire and Rescue Services, including for a new headquarters at the state armory in Ellicott City and two new stations at the school system’s central office and in western Ellicott City.

The proposal includes $34.4 million in new funding for the Elkridge Community and 50+ Center. The county also recently touted a plan to build its first public ice rinks at Meadowbrook Athletic Complex, which would get $3.5 million under Ball’s proposal.

The county’s major flood mitigation project, the Ellicott City Safe and Sound Plan, would get $37.2 million. Another $14.8 million is proposed to maintain and upgrade many of Howard County’s existing stormwater management ponds.

Public works projects could get about $50.9 million for maintenance, upgrades and operational needs. Transportation projects, including the implementation of Pedestrian Master Plan, Bicycle Master Plan, and Complete Streets Policy infrastructure, would get $12.5 million under Ball’s plan.

How is the county paying all of this?

In addition to money coming from the feds and state, Howard County expects to spend $79.1 million from its own revenues.

About a quarter of the funds will come from $120.7 million in general obligation bonds, which the county will have to pay back over time.

The rest comes from a mix of low-interest loans, grants and other sources, county officials said.

What comes next?

The public will have an opportunity to weigh in on the capital budget at hearings April 13 at 6 p.m. and May 7 at 9:30 a.m. The County Council plans to vote on the budget May 20 at 12 p.m.

A detailed version of the county budget, supporting documents and budget calendar are published in the Howard County government website.