Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced emergency legislation to give another $14.5 million to the county’s public schools to address a $29.2 million gap needed to maintain core services.

The Howard County school board’s budget request approved in March was $1.257 billion, over $100 million more than maintenance of effort levels, the minimum amount required by the state. Ball previously called that budget request “unattainable and unaffordable.”

Ball’s county budget gave the Howard County Public School System $800 million, bringing the district’s funding to $1.2 billion when combined with other revenue streams. His proposal represented $39.3 million above maintenance of effort, according to a news release from the county. As the county had to absorb a cost of $6.7 million for educator pensions, Ball proposed a total of $45.7 million in new revenue be directed toward the school system, as previously reported.

“Despite this record level of investment during a year of great uncertainty at the State and Federal level, HCPSS continues to experience severe budget challenges. During a May 5, 2025, presentation to the Howard County Council, HCPSS identified outstanding funding needs of approximately $29.2 million in order to maintain core services and staffing without making reductions or adjustments to programs,” the release says.

Ball’s new legislation would take the one-time infusion of $14.5 million from the county’s reserves for the school district’s operating budget in the coming fiscal year. Combined with the school system’s savings, the emergency funding should meet the $29.2 million gap, according to the release.

Though the county charter says one-time funding can only go to one-time expenses, it allows the county executive and county council to modify that restriction through legislation, the release says. Ball’s emergency legislation will require four of the five members to approve it, according to the release.

The school community advocated for full funding of the district’s budget request at a county council meeting in late April.

“I am grateful for this positive development and will continue to work with the Board of Education to close the remaining gap in a way that prioritizes student and staff outcomes,” said Howard County Public School System Superintendent Bill Barnes in the release.

“While there is still work before the Board of Education and school system leadership to close the remaining gap between new revenue and funding needs, this effort takes a big step to help balance the FY2026 budget and reduce the impact on our students and educators,” said chair of the county’s school board, Jolene Mosley, in the county’s news release.

Ball asked the county council to introduce the legislation for consideration on or before Wednesday, with a public hearing next Monday. Should the council follow Ball’s timeline, it could vote on the legislation on May 21.

“I look forward to working with our partners in the County Council, Board of Education, and Superintendent to advance this proposal quickly through the legislative process before the final budget vote,” Ball said in the release.

Sun reporter Kiersten Hacker contributed to this story. Have a news tip? Contact Racquel Bazos at rbazos@baltsun.com, 443-813-0770 or on X as @rzbworks.