Howard County Executive Ken Ulman hates to see newspapers and empty bottles overflowing from recycling bins and blowing in the wind.
“It?s a pet peeve of mine,” he said.
To clean up the mess and make it easier to recycle, Ulman has included in his proposed budget more than $284,000 for a pilot program in which large-wheeled carts would be used for recycling.
About 5,400 residences, mainly in Elkridge, would participate in the pilot program, said Evelyn Tomlin of the Public Works Department.
Ulman also wants to add 25 hybrid cars for licensing and permits inspectors, and pledged to buy hybrid vehicles whenever possible. The budget would cover the extra costs of up to five hybrid buses, which can be $80,000 to $100,000 more than regular buses. The state does not fully fund hybrid vehicles.
Police and county staff increase
The Howard police force will have 32 new officers under Ulman?s proposed spending plan.
This increase is part of a four- to five-year plan to bring in 100 new officers.
Twenty-four of them will be patrol officers, Chief William McMahon said. The department has boosted the ranks of specialty officers, such as computer forensics officers, but it?s been nine or 10 years since it added patrol cops.
Officials will seek officers who can speak foreign languages, particularly Spanish and Korean, McMahon said.
The police staffing boost was among 140 new county agency employees.
Ulman also wants five new planning and zoning staff members, the department?s full request.
Director Marsha McLaughlin has said her department is staffed at early-1990s levels, stretched too thin to thoroughly address residents? needs.
Funding for new teachers
Howard County public schools received $2 million less in Ulman?s proposal than requested, but it is still the highest amount given to schools in county history.
Funding will go toward hiring 341 full-time school employees and help fund an average 5 percent raise for teachers and staff.
Examiner Staff Writer Megan McIlroy contributed to this report.
