County Executive Pittman Delivers Final Budget Proposal

On May 1 Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman released his proposed Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget, a plan guided by the theme “A House In Good Order.”

Pittman introduced the budget with an address to the County Council.

“Budgets are a statement of values and strategy. This budget, along with the seven I have presented before it, demonstrates our belief that government matters,” County Executive Steuart Pittman said. “Our schools, our public safety, our environment, our health, and the people who live here all benefit when we invest in effective government. With the final budget of my administration, I am able to leave my successor and our residents what I promised: a house in good order, a foundation from which we can truly make Anne Arundel County The Best Place - For All.”

Education

The FY27 budget proposal includes a record-breaking $72.8 million increase in direct funding to support Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS). The proposal also provides a step increase for all AACPS bargaining units plus a 2.25% COLA to match what other county employees are getting, and adds 26 new special education positions.

Health and Human Services

This budget proposal continues to create opportunities for those who have too often been left behind and prioritizes the county executive’s mission to protect people from federal threats. To meet these goals, the proposal:

• Provides $2 million to the Anne Arundel County Food Bank, an increase from last year’s support of $1.5 million.
• Creates five new Medicaid Navigator positions to help recipients keep their health coverage amidst new federal administrative burdens.
• Adds two new case managers to the REACH Program to connect uninsured residents to volunteer and discounted medical providers.
• Doubles funding for the Family Protection Initiative to provide immigrant families with legal assistance and crisis support services.
• Expands the Department of Health’s violence interruption program to Brooklyn Park and continues to support their work in Eastport and Severn.
• Funds the Housing In Place, Home Our Priority (Hip Hop) Program to assist homeless youth.

Public Safety

This proposal continues to grow the county’s public safety agencies based on achievable proposals from county chiefs and directors. The budget adds nine new positions to the police department, including the six positions needed to staff the final shift at the Real Time Information Center.

For the fire department, this budget adds 21 new firefighter positions to fully staff a new fire truck in the Annapolis Neck and South County area.

The proposal also continues to invest in new public safety facilities, funding the new Northern Police Station and the new Arundel, Waugh Chapel and Jessup fire stations.

Land Use and Government Operations

To continue the county’s work to protect natural spaces and ensure efficient government services for residents, the proposal:

• Funds the new Capital Program Optimization Initiative to speed up projects and address bottlenecks in the design and construction process.
• Invests nearly $60 million to divert wastewater flow from the Patapsco Treatment Plant to county facilities, creating capacity and supporting work to lift the moratorium.
• Provides a one-time boost of $458,000 for the road repair fund to address potholes.
• Funds designs for recreation facilities and housing with supportive services at Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park.
• Funds the next phase of planning for the Regional Agricultural Center at the Lothian Grain Elevator site.
• Adds Recreation and Parks staffing for the new Edgewater Community Center, Lake Waterford Indoor Tennis Facility, and recent natural area acquisitions at Glebe Heights, Saltworks and Looper properties.
• Adds an adoption coordinator at Animal Services and funds the concept design for a new animal shelter.

The budget proposal maintains the county’s current income tax rates. It also lowers the property tax rate to 96.8 cents per $100. The proposed property tax rate is .9 cents below the rate that residents pay today, and is .6 cents above the tax cap that local jurisdictions may exceed for education funding.

Residents can review the full FY27 proposed budget at www.aacounty.org/FY27budget. County Council budget public hearings will be held on May 13 and May 19, and all residents are encouraged to participate.