A bill sponsored by state Del. Courtney Watson that would tap state grants to aid areas damaged by flooding had a hearing in Annapolis on Tuesday.

The bill, sponsored by Watson, a Democrat who represents areas including Ellicott City, was the subject of a hearing in the House Transportation and Environment Committee. The measure would authorize the Maryland Department of the Environment to use the state’s flood management grant program to award money for infrastructure damage caused by a flood on or after Jan. 1, 2009.

County Executive Calvin Ball testified in favor of the measure, calling it “a resource for counties and municipalities across the state impacted by severe weather.” He said the grant money could help fund infrastructure repairs and debris removal and also work to help prevent future flooding.

“This legislation would ... allow impacted jurisdictions to use grant funding for flood control and watershed capital projects aimed at reducing the likelihood of another flood event, as well as for automated flood warning projects,” Ball told legislators.

Officials said in a press release that as a result of the two floods that struck Ellicott City in 2016 and 2018, the county has spent $38.1 million repairing damaged infrastructure, removing storm debris and completing emergency work.

“This is money that was largely unbudgeted,”

Ball said. “While there are some opportunities to receive reimbursement from federal agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Highway Administration, that process can be cumbersome and does not come close to covering the full cost of the destruction.”

Ball cited Baltimore City, Western Maryland and Frederick as other areas that have suffered flood damage in recent years, and said the grant program “would be incredibly helpful for all the counties in Maryland that deal with flooding.”

—Staff reports HUD grant seeks to promote self-sufficiency The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded more than $60,000 to the Howard County Housing Commission as part of a $2 million package for public housing authorities across Maryland. Federal officials said the funding is intended to support public housing residents and Housing Choice Voucher Program participants.

The Howard County commission, one of 16 agencies in Maryland receiving funds, will get $61,059. Other amounts ranged from nearly $29,000 for Harford County to $483,000 for Baltimore City. Nationally, $74 million was awarded to 688 public housing authorities.

The grants come through HUD’s Family Self-Sufficiency program, which helps housing authorities hire service coordinators to connect families with programs and services aimed at helping them find jobs, increase earned income and reduce or eliminate the need for rental or welfare assistance.

—Staff reports Ball’s next budget hearing scheduled for March 5 Howard County Executive Calvin Ball has scheduled a citizens budget hearing for March 5, giving resident a chance to talk about budget priorities in what the firstyear executive called a “difficult budget environment.”

“As I work to build my first budget and protect our AAA bond rating, we will be facing tough fiscal challenges and difficult decisions ahead,” Ball said in a press release.

The hearing will be held beginning at 7 pm., Tuesday, March 5, in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive in Ellicott City. People who want to testify can sign up in advance at howardcountymd.gov/budgettestimony.

Residents who do not wish to sign up online will still be able to do so in person the night of the hearing beginning at 6 p.m.

—Staff reports