From a planner to boost recycling rates to a technician for the Health Department to map county wells, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman has proposed adding 43 new county government positions.
Reflecting tight budget times, the proposed fiscal 2009 operating budget has few new initiatives, Ulman said, and fewer staff additions than this year?s 140 new positions.
Ulman also eliminated about 15 positions.
Testifying before the County Council on individual department requests, many department heads called it a modest budget, saying funding was mainly a “continuation of effort.”
The police department saw the greatest staff infusion, with 22 new police officers and two civilian employees.
Ten of the officers would be dedicated to community patrol, an area of the department that hasn?t seen much increase in the ranks, Police Chief Bill McMahon said.
The Finance Department would add three positions to collect the county?s recordation tax, a real estate tax that is levied when property documents are entered into court records, such as when land is sold.
The duties recently were transferred to the county from the state clerk of the court to save money on the fee charged for the service.
The new finance positions cost about $248,000, but the change is expected to save $805,000, Finance Director Sharon Greisz said.
The Housing Department would get five new staff members, most notably positions to monitor the use of funds and ensure compliance with housing regulations, Director Stacy Spann said.
An audit released in February faulted the department for lacking staff and procedures to ensure proper financial controls.
“This budget helpsus address those issues,” Spann said.
One of the departments not benefiting from additional staff is Planning and Zoning, despite county legislation coming down the pipeline that would change the process of zoning regulations and address the revitalization of Columbia?s village centers.
“We will be stretching our staff as creatively as possible,” Director Marsha McLaughlin said.
