Ballot Questions

To reorganize Subsection 202(b) to place in the same subsection the conditions under which a member of the County Council shall forfeit his or her office.

Question B
Charter Amendment
Councilmanic Redistricting Commission and Procedures

To provide that by April of the year after each decennial census date, the County Council shall appoint a commission to prepare a plan for establishing Councilmanic district boundaries; and to provide a procedure by which the Council would establish, by ordinance the redistricting plan prepared by the Commission or another Plan; and to provide that it by march 15 of the year after the Commission is appointed, the Council does not establish Councilmanic districts by ordinance, then the redistricting plan prepared by the Commission shall become law; and to exempt any ordinance establishing Councilmanic district boundaries from referendum.

Question C
Charter Amendment
Legislative Sessions

To eliminate the regulatory scheduled legislative session in the month of December, except in councilmanic election years.

Question D
Charter Amendments
Effective Dates of Law

To provide that laws take effect sixty-one days after their enactment, instead of sixty.

Question E
Charter Amendments
Fine for Disobeying Order of Council

To increase from $100 to $1,000 the maximum fine for the conviction of the misdemeanor or failure or refusal to obey a lawful order issued by the Council in the exercise of its power to conduct investigations of the affairs of the County and the conduct of any department, office or agency.

Question F
Charter Amendment
The Board of Appeals

To amend the title of Article V "appeal Boards" of the Howard County Charter to read "Board of Appeals."

Question G
Charter Amendment
Budgetary and Fiscal Procedures Definitions

To amend the title of Section 601 "Fiscal Year and Tax Year" of Article VI "Budgetary and Fiscal Procedures" of the Howard County Charter and to move and remember budget and fiscal related definitions from Section 914 to Section 691; and to amend the definition of the term "capital project" to include equipment purchase for an existing improvements or betterment, provided the equipment has a useful life exceeding three years, and further provided that the life of the asset equals or exceeds the term of the bonds issued to fund the purchase of the asset.

Question H
Charter Amendment
The Budget Stabilization Account

To clarify that the amount of any excess surplus appropriated for restricted purposes listed in Section 6158 is not included in the definition of total general fund expenditures and does not affect the amount required to be appropriated to the Budget Stabilization Account.

Question I
Charter Amendment
Cooperative Purchasing

To Permit the County Purchasing agent to undertake programs involving joint or cooperative purchases with public entities in addition to the state of Maryland and jurisdictions within the State Maryland.

Question J
Charter Amendment
Conflict of Interest - Prohibition on Gifts of More than Nominal Value

To provide that no officer or employee of the County shall accept any service or thing of more than nominal value, directly or indirectly, form any person, firm, or corporation having dealings with the County.

Question K
Charter Amendment
Conflict of Interest - Penalties

To provide that the County may by law establish other penalties as alternatives to the forfeiture of office, for a willful violation of the provisions of Section 901.

Question L
Charter Amendment
Secretary to the Council and County Administrator

To amend references to the Howard County Charter to the "Secretary of the Council" to read "Administrator of the Council" and to the "County Administrator" to read "Chief Administrative Office."

Question M
Charter Amendment
Gender References

To provide that the references in the Charter to the male gender alone be changed to refer to both genders or changed to a gender-neutral term.