Departing from an era of limited increases in staff, the Howard County Council is asking for the largest increase in funding in at least seven years as part of a push to fulfill the needs of a growing number of constituents.
The $4.8 million request, an increase of nearly 13 percent over last year, covers six positions, including a new position with a fiscal impact of roughly $150,000 in the auditor's office that accounts for a significant portion of the overall increase.
The council's request includes funding for five new district aides that will improve constituent services, some council members said, setting a new precedent for council members in the next election cycle.
"As the county has grown, it's important to have sufficient resources to be responsive," said Council Chairman Calvin Ball.
The number of constituents council members represent has increased from around 38,000 in 1990 to between 55,000 to 60,000 in 2010, according to estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau.
"This is a very small modest increase over a significant period of time," said Councilwoman Jen Terrasa. "Our constituents will see a difference."
Each council member has a full-time special assistant, many of whom work weekends and keep long hours, councilmembers said. In September, the County Council hired its first public information officer after more than a decade of no new positions. The officer serves as the primary public information liaison for the council, coordinates special events and manages content on the council's website, among other functions, according to a job description for the position.
Councilman Jon Weinstein said the new positions will allow him to focus on special projects, in addition to addressing constituent services, and respond to the varying ways councilmembers and their constituents connect with each other.
"I average about 30 to 35 hours [a week] in addition to a full-time job. We're not going to convert the council to a full-time position," Weinstein said. "We need people grounded in the community."
Councilman Greg Fox said he disagreed with the new district aide position, adding some council members failed to justify a "demonstrated need" for the new position.
"We should [not] be adding things just because it'd be nice to have them," said Fox. "It would be something that could be potentially helpful. But it's a nicety, not a necessity."
The auditor's office is asking for an accountant or auditor to focus on financial analysis, conduct IT reviews, perform narrowly tailored audits and conduct budget and legislative analysis. The position is the first new position in nearly 26 years, according to the county's auditor, Craig Glendenning.
The position will allow the office to tackle more rigorous budget evaluation and analyze the fiscal impact of legislation, an aspect that has been missing from the office when compared to other jurisdictions like Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties, said Glendenning.
"We don't see ourselves anything more than the county executive and the budget office has done," said Glendenning, citing two additional positions in this year's budget for the county's budget office.
The increase is partly a sign of the changing times, Terrasa said. The advent of social media and faster, more instantaneous forms of communication lends itself to a round-the-clock vehicle to connect with constituents.
Constituents used to "find an envelope and put a stamp" on it, said Terrasa. "But it's never just about social media or emails. There are concerns throughout the community that can be better addressed."
The council's budget also deletes a senior legislative position that was recently vacated, according to Glendenning.
The County Council will adopt the operating and capital budgets on May 26. Councilwoman Mary Kay Sigaty could not be reached for comment immediately.This story will be updated.