Tuesday, April 24, 2012
The proposed budget supports more education funding, including potential teacher pension costs.
The county executive’s office has released its proposed operating budget for 2013–a $40 million increase over last year’s budget. Of the $1.54 budget, $898.8 million comes from the general fund, monies collected primarily from property and income taxes, along with other taxes and fees. The budget includes $878.2 million for education, which includes funding for the Howard County Public School System, the Howard County Library System and Howard Community College. The education budget is about 57 percent of the total operating budget, and a 3.9 percent increase from last year. Last year’s education budget, about $845.6 million, was a 5 percent increase over 2011. Included in the education portion of the budget is $9.8 million to cover half …
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Howard County residents aren’t immune to financial struggles, group says.
A group whose study found that a family of three needs more than $63,000 a year to not be considered "working poor" in Howard County is asking the County Council to address questions about how to best serve those in need, especially in regard to affordable housing. The Association of Community Services of Howard County (ACS), a network of Howard County human services providers and advocates, was set to meet Tuesday with County Council members in the wake of the findings of a study commissioned by the ACS and conducted by the Policy Analysis Center. The study, entitled "Making Ends Meet" in Howard County, was conducted over more than a year by researchers at The Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies, finding that a family with two …
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Owen Brown Interfaith Center
7246 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD
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438195
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Sunday, January 29, 2012
Board of Education votes to delay middle school proposal and vows to improve emergency communications; a lawsuit against the schools system was dismissed.
Here's a look past at some of the top headlines across Howard County Patches: School Board Votes to Delay Middle School Decision The Board of Education on Thursday voted to delay its decision on the Howard County Public School System's proposed middle school changes. The proposal, which got off to a rocky start with the perception that school officials began rolling out the program before presenting it to the board, met with unified opposition from classroom teachers. Many parents believe they were left out of the communications loop as well. The motion to approve the program changes failed on a 4-4 vote. On votes that include the student member, five votes are required for passage. Student member Tomi Williams voted against adoption of …
Saturday, January 28, 2012
"There's got to be a better way to communicate," Councilman Calvin Ball told the school board.
County Council members this week questioned Howard County Board of Education members about recent incidents that may have put children on school buses in danger and the ways those incidents were reported to parents. Council members Calvin Ball and Jen Terrasa Tuesday raised concerns about a group of young men who surrounded and harassed a bus near Laurel Woods with elementary school students onboard, an incident in which people threw rocks at a school bus, as well as multiple reports of suspicious activity near groups of children in Elkridge and Ellicott City. Laurel Woods administrators sent students home with a note about the "gang-like" activity, but Terrasa said she didn't find out about the incidents until a week after they occurred. …
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Take a look back at some of the top Howard County stories of the week.
Council Approves 'Historic' Bill Protecting Transgendered from Discrimination: Voting along party lines, with Democrats in the majority, the Howard County Council voted 4-1 to pass bail that will provide protection against discrimination to transgendered individuals, Columbia Patch reports. Michael Steele Visits Savage in Support of Senate Hopeful: Former Maryland Lieutenant Governor and Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele met fundraisers and fellow conervatives at Rams Head Tavern in Savage Mill on Wednesday evening in support of U.S. Senate hopeful Dan Bongino. Savage-Guilford Patch was there. Developer Joins Community in Fighting Freight Project in Elkridge: On Tuesday evening, the developer of a mixed-use project on …
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Council votes 4-1 to approve a bill to provide legal protection for transgender residents.
Before Monday night's Howard County Council legislative session, Woodstock resident Catherine Hyde predicted she would cry if Bill 54-2011 passed. Hyde had worked hard on behalf of her transgender daughter and others like her to get a local bill passed that protects them against certain types of discriminatory practices. She also expressed hope that her own district councilman, Greg Fox, would support the bill that would provide legal protection for Howard County's transgender residents. "Fox is my guy," Hyde said. "I really hope he can find it in his heart to do the right thing instead of the need to just go on the record. But we don't need him to get the bill passed." The bill amends the Health and Social Services title of the Howard …
Monday, December 5, 2011
After initial reading and public hearing, bill is eligible for a vote this evening.
Howard County's transgender residents could find themselves more protected by law after tonight's Howard County Council meeting. A bill that would amend the county's Health and Scoial Services Title of the Howard County Code is eligible for a vote tonight, according to council Administrator Stephen LeGendre. The amendment would include gender identity and expression as a classification protected against certain types of unlawful, discriminatory practices, including housing and employment. The bill was introduced by Council Chairman Calvin Ball, Vice Chairwoman Jennifer Terrasa and members Mary Kay Sigaty and Courtney Watson on Nov. 7. A public hearing on the proposal was held Nov. 21, and the bill's third reading is today, making it …
Monday, August 1, 2011
A look at the latest actions of the Howard County Council.
The Howard County Council is in recess for the month of August after voting down last week a hotly debated bill that would have given nonprofit swim clubs a property-tax credit. The council also voted unanimously last week to: For a full list of actions taken July 28 by the Howard County Council, visit the council’s legislative page.
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1723017
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Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Smaller crowd endures cold weather to see "sequel" swear-in ceremony.
Violins, cello and bass welcomed about 300 people from the bitter winds to the swearing-in of the Howard County executive and council at Howard High School on Monday night. National Public Radio's Korva Coleman emceed the occasion, where all six incumbents again took the oath to serve the county. Administered by Clerk of the Court Margaret Rappaport, Ken Ulman was sworn in as county executive, along with county council members Courtney Watson (District 1), Calvin Ball (District 2), Jen Terrasa (District 3), Mary Kay Sigaty (District 4) and Greg Fox (District 5). Numerous Maryland legislators from both sides of the aisle were in attendance, including Delegates Guy Guzzone and Liz Bobo, and Senators James Robey and Allan Kittleman. Each …
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-76.81258
8700 Old Annapolis Rd, Ellicott City, MD
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Remmy
9:48 pm on Monday, April 30, 2012
I agree with Bill - The servants (who pay the bills) are to illerate to understand the use of "lean" - will make us think he is looking out for all of us. WRONG. Check out the verbage - "the general fund also increased by just under 4.5 percent". Another term used "Just under" to make you the (poor paying servants) think we are looking out for YOU. ANOTHER WRONG! - Wake up people Dirty Ken talks … more ›