4 things to know about Anne Arundel County’s upcoming budget process

A new year means a new budget, and Anne Arundel County is already gearing up to draft its fiscal 2026 budget ahead of a late spring release.

The county’s budget process will kick off in January, and residents will have a chance to weigh in on what they think should be prioritized in the coming year. Here is what to know about how the process works in Anne Arundel County.

The budget takes time

Shaping the county’s budget takes place over the course of several months.

In January, county departments prepare their budget requests for County Executive Steuart Pittman, a Democrat. Budget town halls, where residents share their thoughts on the budget, also occur in January and February.

From there, the county’s budget office will review each department’s proposed budget and make recommendations. Department heads then meet with Pittman to finalize their budgets ahead of the budget office projecting revenue and making final decisions.

The proposed budget is typically introduced by the county executive May 1 before being sent to the County Council for review, amendments and at least one public hearing. A final vote takes place in mid-June and the fiscal year begins July 1.

How to participate

Pittman will oversee eight budget town hall meetings in January and February, which include one meeting per council district and a virtual Spanish language event.

Public testimony is limited to two minutes per speaker. All town halls will be streamed live on Pittman’s Facebook page. Written comments can be submitted to [e-mail]. Tips on how to make budget requests are available at aacounty.org.

Below is a list of the upcoming budget town hall meetings by district. All take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

District 1 — Councilman Pete Smith, Severn Democrat

Jan. 29 at North County High School, Glen Burnie

District 2 — Councilwoman Allison Pickard, Millersville Democrat

Jan. 9 at Severn Run High School, Severn

District 3 — Councilman Nathan Volke, Pasadena Republican

Jan. 14 at Chesapeake High School, Pasadena

District 4 — Councilwoman Julie Hummer, Laurel Democrat

Jan. 30 at Arundel High School, Gambrills

District 5 — Councilwoman Amanda Fiedler, Arnold Republican

Jan. 16 at Severna Park High School, Severna Park

District 6 — Councilwoman Lisa Rodvien, Annapolis Democrat

Feb. 4 at Annapolis High School, Annapolis

District 7 — Councilwoman Shannon Leadbetter, Crofton Republican

Jan. 23 at Southern High School, Harwood

Countywide — Spanish language option

Feb. 5, virtual town hall.

Education, public safety cost most

About half of the county’s budget typically goes to the Board of Education. This year, the school system received more than $1 billion of the county’s $2.3 billion budget, which included funding for staff and new schools.

In December, Anne Arundel County Public Schools Superintendent Mark Bedell proposed a nearly $1.8 billion operating budget for fiscal 2026, which prioritizes special education, early literacy and bilingual learning. The school district’s $204.7 million capital budget, which is part of the overall budget request, was approved by the Board of Education in September and funds the district’s various construction projects, including three new school buildings.

Historically, public safety has also been a funding priority. The fiscal 2025 budget included money to increase the starting salary of police officers from $62,000 to $70,000 — the highest in the state.

State, federal decisions could change things

Maryland is facing a projected $3 billion budget deficit, which is likely to dominate conversations in the Maryland General Assembly’s legislative session when it begins Jan. 8.

Chris Trumbauer, Anne Arundel County’s budget officer, says people should watch what state lawmakers do with the budget. The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, an education reform plan, is one initiative putting pressure on the state’s budget, which could affect the county.

“How are they going to tackle that and what impact will that have on county finances?” he said. “We get a significant amount of state support through various things, from school construction to casino money to highway user funds on transportation, and if there’s changes to any of those formulas, that could have a downstream effect on the county budget.”

The impact of President-elect Donald Trump’s administration on the economy is still uncertain, too.

The potential downsizing of federal government departments could have a significant effect on Anne Arundel County and the state as a whole, Trumbauer said, and Trump’s proposed tariffs could raise prices for consumers looking for a break.

“There is a greater uncertainty than usual on the federal side, on what the medium- to long-term economy could look like, and that has me a little bit worried,” Trumbauer said.

However, Trumbauer said he feels good about Anne Arundel’s fiscal foundation. The county has been growing its Revenue Reserve Fund, also known as a rainy-day fund, which gives it a buffer in case of an economic downturn, for example.

“Even if something drastic happens on the federal landscape, we’ll be a little bit insulated for at least a while,” he said.

Have a news tip? Contact Natalie Jones at [e-mail], 443-679-7818 and x.com/nataliemjones.