Howard Community College staffers, faculty and board members turned out Wednesday night in a show of solidarity, joining several county agencies and organizations requesting funding at the first county budget hearing for fiscal year 2011.

The college’s group of about 40 people dominated the audience at the Board of Education headquarters on Route 108 in Ellicott City, comprising about two-thirds of the people in attendance.

Representatives of the Association of Community Services, Howard County Library, Howard County Public School System and the Community Action Council also testified.

County Executive Kenneth Ulman opened the meeting by saying he is “increasingly optimistic and bullish about the future of Howard County,” despite economic setbacks locally and throughout the state and country.

County budget experts said recently the county faces a growing shortfall that has reached an estimated $20 million, and Ulman has said employees might face mandatory furloughs again this year.

Still, some were not shy about their need for county funding.

Kate Hetherington, HCC president and the second of 13 speakers at the budget hearing, targeted two priorities for the college: student parking and funding of the first phase of the school's new Health Sciences building.

Despite opening a 518-space parking garage four years ago, the college has a 1,600-space deficit and many students are forced to park in the Wilde Lake Village Center and take a shuttle to campus, she said.

What the college needs, she said, is a 750-space parking garage at a cost of $12 million.

Hetherington also emphasized a request for $4.62 million for the first phase of HCC's new Health Science building, a project which received design funds in last year’s budget process.

Three other speakers testified on behalf of HCC, including Jim Truby, chairman of the college’s board of directors, who said the school had crafted a “share the pain” budget request.

Truby said a 20 percent increase in enrollment over the last two years necessitated hiring four additional permanent faculty members. He added that it is commonly recommended that a 50-50 ratio of full-time to part-time faculty be upheld, but that HCC had “dropped down to a 31-69 split.” He also requested a 1.5 percent merit increase for HCC faculty and staff.

Following the college’s pleas, Valerie Gross, executive director of the Howard County Library, said the library's funding request should be a high priority for the county, even as the library retains the shorter operating hours begun last year to reduce operating expenses.

Charles McLaughlin, vice chairman of the library's board of trustees, requested that all phases of the new Miller branch, in Ellicott City, be completed as scheduled. Groundbreaking for the $30 million facility, to be located just west of the existing building on Frederick Road, was held in February.

Sydney Cousin, county schools superintendent, testified that HCPSS is “shouldering its share of the burden” through furloughs, elimination of central office administrative positions and filling teaching vacancies with long-term substitute teachers where possible.

“While the school system appreciates the $10 million in federal stimulus money it has been allotted, that funding will not be available beyond FY 2011,” he said. Therefore, HCPSS is avoiding the commitment of long-term dollars that may not be available in the future, he added.

Cousin asked that Ulman honor the “maintenance of effort” spending required by law for each student, even if the state decides to waive that quality-assurance mandate, noting that the school system expects to enroll 50,000 students next year.

Bita Dayhoff, president of the Community Action Council, told Ulman that during the first eight months of FY 2010, CAC had fielded 4,000 requests for energy assistance totaling $4 million, a 38 percent increase from the 2,500 requests received a year ago.

The council had also distributed 189,000 pounds of food through its Food Bank and seen requests for housing assistance jump 30 percent from, 160 families to 210 families.

Dayhoff asked that the Community Service Partnership grants be fully supported by the county in light of these statistics, noting these grants fund 11 percent of CAC's operating budget.

She also said the North Laurel-Savage Multi-Service Center, which houses several community service providers, would be moving to expanded quarters by July 1.

A second budget hearing will be held March 22 at 1:30 p.m. at the Elkridge Senior Center, located at 6540 Washington Boulevard, Elkridge. Residents can sign up for testimony online at www.howardcountymd.gov. 

The county executive's proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2011, which begins July 1, 2010, will be presented to the County Council on April 19.

This article has been updated.

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user comments (1)

user hocomudgeon says...

The county is facing a $20 million budget shortfall, which might necessitate furloughs, and people are asking that NON-ESSENTIAL projects be funded! We have lost all sense of priority and proportion when it comes to spending the tax payer's money.

Posted 10:18 AM, 03.24.10 | Permalink