Adam RollinsHoward County, Maryland, is making a significant infrastructure investment with a new $365 million capital improvement plan (CIP) for fiscal 2026. The budget was approved unanimously and draws $79.4 million in bond funds, $78.4 million in PAYGO funding and a mixture of low-interest loans and state or federal grants.
Some of the largest allocations in the plan include education, which will receive $100.6 million, and water infrastructure, which will receive $61 million. Sewer infrastructure and community facility improvements will also receive significant funding. Significant areas of investment include:
- Education ($100.6 million) – Howard County Public School System capital improvements, including safety upgrades and facility renovations.
- Water & Sewer Systems ($61 million) – Water reclamation plant upgrades, asset management and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) compliance programs.
- Flood Control & Stormwater Management ($36.3 million) – Ellicott City Safe and Sound Plan implementation and countywide watershed restoration.
- Transportation Infrastructure ($32 million) – Pedestrian and bicyclist lane improvements, bus rapid transit facilities and road maintenance.
- Technology Modernization ($11 million) – IT infrastructure upgrades, AI integration and digital platform improvements.
- Howard Community College ($9.6 million) – Workforce Development and Trades Center construction and systemic renovations.
- Public Safety Infrastructure ($8.1 million) – Fire station construction, detention center renovations and training facilities.
- Library Infrastructure ($5 million) – Central branch planning and design in downtown Columbia.
The Board of Education’s capital request will be fully funded for the fourth consecutive year. The $100.6 million investment represents the second-highest local contribution in 17 years and supports critical infrastructure improvements across the school system.
Major projects include comprehensive renovations at Oakland Mills Middle School ($12.6 million) and Dunloggin Middle School ($6.7 million). Safety enhancements will include single-point entry systems at all high schools.
Beyond these major renovations, $35.3 million in additional funding will address countywide school maintenance needs , including HVAC replacements, lab maintenance and air quality improvements.
Recognizing increasing demand on existing infrastructure, county officials allocated $61 million toward water delivery and sewer collection systems. The investment includes $20.1 million in upgrades for the Little Patuxent Water Reclamation Plant and nearly $19 million in combined funding for comprehensive asset management programs for water and sewer systems.
After experiencing multiple floods in the last decade, county officials dedicated $36.3 million to flood mitigation efforts. The largest component directs $23.2 million toward the Ellicott City Safe and Sound Plan implementation, funded through low-interest state and federal loans to advance construction of the North Tunnel project and design work for the New Cut Branch flood mitigation pond.
The county is also investing in broader flood protection measures. Additional investments include $12.6 million for stormwater pond outlet structure replacements and $500,000 for vulnerable watershed restoration throughout the county.
Transportation improvements will receive $32 million in combined investments, with $13.8 million designated for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure representing the second-highest investment level in county history. The allocation supports implementation of the Pedestrian Master Plan and Complete Streets Policy, including enhanced crosswalks, sidewalks and shared-use pathways along major corridors.
Digital infrastructure will receive $11 million in comprehensive technology improvements, with the largest allocation,$3.8 million, targeting IT infrastructure upgrades across county systems. A $3 million investment will transform the county’s constituent management platform with AI integration, beginning with upgrades to the Department of Inspection, Licenses and Permits’ licensing platform.
Critical public safety facility improvements received $8.1 million, including $3.2 million for continued renovations to the Howard County Detention Center. These renovations include the completion of a new mental health unit, security alarm updates and a new reentry and inmate training space.
The county is also modernizing other public safety facilities across the region. Additional investments include $2.5 million to transform the former State Armory in Ellicott City into a training and occupational safety facility, $1.9 million for public safety improvements across fire and police stations and $500,000 for rural fire water protection systems.
Howard County developed its fiscal 2026 budget amid significant uncertainties, including workforce reductions affecting the county’s substantial government contractor workforce and state-mandated cost shifts totaling $8 million. Despite these challenges, the county maintained its AAA bond rating while reducing general obligation bond issuance by $10 million compared to the previous year.
The approval of Howard County’s $365 million capital budget creates immediate procurement opportunities across multiple sectors, from educational facility renovations to flood mitigation infrastructure. Major multi-year projects include the $23.2 million Ellicott City Safe and Sound Plan, $12.6 million for Oakland Mills Middle School renovations and an estimated $9.6 million project at the Howard Community College Workforce Development Center.
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