More bilingual staff and minority recruitment efforts are included in Howard?s proposed budget in an effort to respond to the county?s growing diversity.
“I want the administration and county government to reflect the diversity of the county,” County Executive Ken Ulman said.
For example, the proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2008 funds two new full-time translators for the Health Department.
Health Officer Peter Beilenson said he was struck by the number of Spanish-speaking patients as he began his clinical practice in Howard.
Howard hires contract translators, who charge $45 to $55 an hour and cost the county roughly $250,000 a year, Beilenson told the County Council during a budget work session Tuesday.
Hiring the translators full-time will save Howard money, he said.
Included in the proposed budget for the Howard County Library is an English for Speakers of Other Languages, or ESOL, specialist.
This would allow the library to offer bilingual story times, Associate Director Ann Gilligan told the council.
The county?s public safety departments also are seeing the need to hire more diverse staff.
Fire and Rescue also wants to bring on more diverse recruits. The budget proposal includes funding for 39 firefighter recruits.
“We are now trying to reach out to areas that reflect the communities we serve,” Fire Chief Joe Herr told the council.
Howard?s population
Percentage of residents by race in 2005:
White: 69.1
Black: 15.5
Asian: 11
Hispanic: 4
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
