The SAAC will likely have 7-8 meetings between January and February on operating budget needs, CIP budget needs, the current economy, revenue, long-term forecast and debt projections. Meetings will be virtual, but are open to the public and will be livestreamed online here.
Howard County has distributed relief funding quickly and efficiently over the past two years, however, there is still some uncertainty as the region looks towards recovery. The Howard County unemployment rate is at 3.9% as of October 2021, down from 5.2% in September 2020, but still above the pre-pandemic level of 2.8%.
The SAAC will provide a comprehensive report to the County Executive by March 1, 2022 which includes:
- Projected General Fund revenues for the upcoming fiscal year
- Recommended new county debt (General Obligation bonds) authorization
- An analysis of the long-term fiscal outlook including multi-year projections
- Other finding and/or recommendations the committee finds appropriate
The following residents were named Voting Members:
- Todd Arterburn
- Lakey Boyd, Columbia Association
- Richard Clinch, Ph.D.
- Howie Feaga, Farm Bureau
- Ellen Flynn Giles
- Daniel Gick
- Khaleda Hasan
- John C. Hendrickson
- Cleveland Horton II, Howard County Association of Realtors
- Steve Hunt
- Darius Irani, Ph.D.
- Barbara K. Lawson
- Leonardo McClarty, Howard Count Chamber of Commerce
- Steve Poynot (Committee Vice Chair)
- Joshua Tzuker
Non-Voting Members:
- Tonya Aikens, Howard County Library System
- Lynn Coleman, Howard Community College
- Joan Driessen, Association of Community Services Howard County
- Jahantab Siddiqui, Howard County Public School System
- Jennifer Mallo, Howard County Board of Education