As the Howard County Council prepares its budget for fiscal year 2013, councilwoman Courtney Watson is asking her colleagues to consider creating paid summer internships for students.

Watson, an Ellicott City Democrat, said the proposal is aimed at providing more summer employment opportunities for youth — something a few community groups, including People Acting Together in Howard, have asked the county to help with — while encouraging students to get more involved in government.

Council members Jennifer Terrasa, Mary Kay Sigaty and Calvin Ball, all Columbia Democrats, already offer internships, but they are unpaid. Watson said she has had unpaid interns for special projects but never on a regular basis.

Council member Greg Fox, a Fulton Republican, said he has not had interns in his office, but he is looking at getting an unpaid intern now.

County Executive Ken Ulman also offers unpaid internships in his office. County spokesman Kevin Enright said paid internships "are not on the horizon" for the administration.

Terrasa said she wants to see how paid internships would fit into the council budget, but she likes the concept.

"There's a lot of people who can't afford to just volunteer their time but just need that important experience," she said. "Amazing things come out of internships."

Other council members agreed the idea of paid internships is well-intentioned but the proposal has to be considered in the context of other budget priorities.

The council is planning to make a decision about the paid internships by the end of the month, when it must submit a budget to Ulman.