FY 27 Proposed Operating Budget

Budget highlights are listed below: - Total operating budget (all funds) of $1,145,966,650; Total capital budget of $364,514,265. - Total general fund operating budget of $896,618,000, an increase of $80,053,000 (9.8%) - No increases in tax rates - Highest funding in county history for HCPS, Sheriff’s Office, State’s Attorney, HCC, Libraries - Largest general fund operating increases by department/agency: o Harford County Public Schools ($25,530,838) o Sheriff’s Office ($9,705,833) o Emergency Services ($3,501,854) o Harford Community College ($1,726,917) o Libraries ($1,337,706) o Public Works ($1,000,120) o Volunteer Fire Companies ($918,147) - COLA of 3% plus a merit increase of $2,000 for employees of county government, as well as civilian employees of the Sheriff’s Office and Circuit Court, with an equivalent amount to be allocated at the discretion of the State’s Attorney. - The state of Maryland has burdened county taxpayers with over $3 million in new costs - AAA bond rating retained, lowering our cost of borrowing for capital projects o State’s Attorney ($700,284) o Humane Society ($563,000) o HCPS support (for teacher pensions, private pre-K, etc.): $6,414,161 o General fund appropriation for HCPS capital improvements: $7,500,000 o Debt service on HCPS capital projects: $38,534,919 - The County contribution to the HCPS operating budget increases by $22,594,148 (6.5%), providing for full-funding of the second year of the Superintendent's three-year funding plan as presented to the Board of Education in January 2025. - Capital budget funding of $96,946,000, including $79 million for the Harford Academy and new elementary school, $3.1 million for roof replacement at Hall’s Cross Roads ES, $5 million for school site improvements, and $2.3 million for school safety improvements. Sheriff’s Office - Operating budget of $143.2 million, an increase of 7.3% over last year, and an increase of 25.6% over the last four years. - PAYGo funding for equipment increases by an additional $2.9 million, bringing the total general fund increase to 9.2% Harford County Public Schools - Total county operating budget funding of $422,645,505 (9.2% increase) o HCPS operating contribution: $370,196,425

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