Rising Revenue Allows Council To Add Spending, Cut Tax Rate

Howard County's prosperous economy permitted the County Council on Wednesday to approve a $1.17 billion operating budget for fiscal 2007 that reduces the property tax rate while increasing spending for schools and services.

The county government's budget will grow by 10 percent in the budget year that begins July 1. The property tax rate of $1.01 per $100 of assessed value is 3 cents lower than the current rate.

Because of climbing property assessments, most homeowners will still receive higher tax bills. But the rate decrease will offset some of the impact of the assessments, county officials said. Budget Administrator Jonathan R. Seeman estimated that the new rate would save an owner of a home assessed at $450,000 about $135.

The administration of County Executive James N. Robey (D) relied on sizable increases in property, income and development-related tax revenue this year to produce a final budget that county officials agreed was relatively pain-free. Robey is leaving office because of term limits and is running for the District 13 seat in the Maryland Senate.

County schools dominate the spending plan with a $551 million operating budget that includes money for 290 new employees and 3.5 percent raises for teachers.

Although he joined his colleagues in voting for the budget, Charles C. Feaga, the panel's staunchly conservative West County Republican, complained.

"I think we get too used to spending for everything that comes down the road," Feaga said.

The council's three Democrats and two Republicans were split on the administration's recently offered amendment to provide $250,000 in emergency assistance funds for poor people struggling with fuel, utility and housing costs.

Council Chairman Christopher J. Merdon (R-Northeast County) said a similar state program existed. And he said it was unwise to pay for the initiative with money from the county's contingency fund, which is intended for unanticipated expenses and emergencies.

"We don't know what our costs will be," said Merdon, who wants to succeed Robey as county executive in November.

But Ken Ulman (D-West Columbia), who is also a candidate for county executive, said, "We know the emergency is here" for poor people who get overlooked amid Howard's affluent residents. "We've got a significant population that needs our help."

The council also split 3 to 2 along party lines on another proposal to dip into the contingency fund to restore $220,000 to the school system's budget to pay for several guidance counselors, custodians and a part-time psychologist that Robey had proposed cutting.

"This is almost a stunt," Feaga said.

The council approved a $348 million capital budget that devotes nearly 31 percent of the money to schools and Howard Community College, while also providing funds for new fire stations, a public safety training academy, parks and road projects such as widening the two-lane Marriottsville Road bridge over Interstate 70, a notorious bottleneck. There's $6 million in the capital budget for the county to acquire and partially renovate Belmont, an 18th-century estate in Elkridge owned by the educational foundation of the community college.

The council also raised the county's marriage license fee from $35 to $50 to provide more money for domestic violence programs.