Howard County invests in education, transportation and public works in $365M capital budget

Howard County in Maryland has approved a new budget for fiscal year 2026, prioritizing a wide range of capital projects seeking to enhance public infrastructure and schools.

The new budget, totaling $2.35 billion, includes a $365 million capital budget aimed at making extensive improvements to schools, public safety, community facilities and transportation infrastructure.

Recently approved by the Howard County Council, the budget emphasizes projects that upgrade and modernize school facilities.

The Howard County Public School System’s budget accounts for $1.2 billion of the total, including a $100.6 million budget for capital improvements over the next year.

Planned improvements to schools include:

• $35.3 million to support various renovations and address maintenance needs across Howard County Public School System, including HVAC replacements, lab maintenance, athletic needs, air quality, and more.
• $12.6 million to address new electrical, mechanical, plumbing, technology, roofing, and life safety systems at Oakland Mills Middle School, and the addition of 195 seats to expand the school’s capacity.
• $6.7 million to renovate Dunloggin Middle School’s existing facility and expand its educational program space by adding 136 seats to the school.
• $6.7 million to address roof replacement and maintenance at area schools.
• $5.4 million for information technology investments, relocatable classrooms, playground equipment, and parking enhancements.

The county will also address several new and deferred projects that address public works facilities and service. The budget’s planned capital expenditures for public works upgrades include:

• $20.1 million for maintenance, operation, and upgrades at the Little Patuxent Water Reclamation Plant.
• $4.5 million for land acquisition, design, and permit costs for a new fire station in the northern part of the county and $500,000 in rural fire water protection systems.
• $3.2 million for continued renovations to the Howard County Detention Center, including the completion of a new mental health unit, updates to the center’s security alarm, a new reentry and inmate training space, a feasibility study for the long-term replacement of the facility, and lobby upgrades.
• $2.5 million for the ongoing renovations to transform the former Maryland Army National Guard’s BG Thomas B. Baker Armory in Ellicott City into a future site for training and occupational safety and health services.

Planned capital expenditures for public safety include:

• $4.5 million for land acquisition, design, and permit costs for a new fire station in the northern part of the county and $500,000 in rural fire water protection systems.
• $3.2 million for continued renovations to the Howard County’s Detention Center, including the completion of a new mental health unit, updates to the center’s security alarm, a new reentry and inmate training space, a feasibility study for the long-term replacement of the facility, and lobby upgrades.
• $2.5 million for ongoing renovations to transform the former Maryland Army National Guard’s BG Thomas B. Baker Armory in Ellicott City into a future site for training and occupational safety and health services.

Planned expenditures to community facilities and transportation infrastructure include:

• $25 million in capital funding for the planning, design and construction of the County’s new Elkridge Community and 50+ Center.
• $14.7 million to support the implementation of Pedestrian Master Plan, Bicycle Master Plan and Complete Streets Policy infrastructure across the county. Projects include crosswalks, sidewalks, and shared-use pathway projects.
• $15.1 million for road resurfacing.
• $9.6 million for various park system improvements, including repainting the Bollman Truss Bridge and other site improvements, Alpha Ridge Park pickleball courts, Rockburn Branch Park improvements, Ilchester Park and Recreation Center improvements, the acquisition of parkland, and repairs and renovations to Department of Recreation & Parks’ aging infrastructure.
• $5 million to continue the redevelopment of the Flier Building in Columbia, Maryland into “The Source,” a community hub that will provide community services, youth recreation opportunities and employment resources.
• $2.4 million to complete the first phase of the new Center for Arts, Culture, and History renovation and construction project, which is transforming the former historic Ellicott City Circuit Courthouse space into the new home of the Howard County Arts Council, first-ever Asian American and Pacific Islander Cultural Center, the County’s award-winning Roving Radish program, and new shared commercial kitchen.
• $3 million for sidewalks, road and bridge construction.
• $2 million in county funding to support the design and construction of bus stations across the county, including funding for Montgomery County’s extension of its Flash Bus Rapid Transit service along the US 29 corridor in Howard County, and other passenger amenities and access improvements at 20 Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland bus stops.
• $1 million to launch the planning and design phase of the County’s new Agriculture Center at West Friendship Park.

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