With one county budget under its belt, the new Howard County Council is looking for ways to improve the process and make it easier for residents to participate.
“We really want the public to be involved,” Council Chairman Calvin Ball, D-District 2, said at a council budget debriefing Monday.
But as the several budget discussions really got under way starting in April, many questions from the public and council arose.
“The real roots of this conversation are in terms of information we didn?t have [about] major projects important to the budget,” said Councilwoman Mary Kay Sigaty, D-District 4.
Each department head should present an overview of the budget at a hearing early in the process, council members said.
The officials could brief the most important projects or major changes, so the public and council would get a better sense of the details and issues.
Councilman Greg Fox, R-District 5, suggested holding an overall public hearing later in the process.
Council members said they also could better anticipate what issues will bring the most public comment, such as this year?s contentious funding for the Belmont property or cuts for Mount Hebron High School.
The council also debated ways to boost communication between legislators and the administration, such as directing questions through a single person or having a meeting between County Executive Ken Ulman and council leadership.
“This is really to facilitate better communication,” said Councilwoman Courtney Watson, D-District 1.
