Anne Arundel FY27 Budget Season Kicks Off: Services, Taxes on the Table | The Locally Times
County Executive to unveil FY27 budget May 1, launching a month of public hearings and council reviews that will determine funding for schools, public safety, and potentially your property tax bill.
Anne Arundel County residents will soon see how their tax dollars are proposed to be spent, and how county services might change, as the Fiscal Year 2027 budget review process officially kicks off next month. The County Executive is scheduled to present the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget on May 1, 2026, at 11 AM in the Council Chambers, marking the official start of a month-long period of public hearings and council deliberations. This critical process will shape funding for everything from schools to public safety and could directly impact property taxes. Residents can find comprehensive information, including meeting schedules and legislation links, on the County Council's dedicated FY27 Budget page. This follows recent county discussions, including a virtual session of the Anne Arundel County Delegation held on March 27, 2026, details of which are available in county records. ## The Budget Unveiling and Council Scrutiny The County Executive's formal presentation on May 1, 2026, at 11 AM in the Council Chambers will kick off the detailed review process. Immediately following, at 1:00 PM, the Council Chambers will host initial budget presentations from key advisory bodies, including the Planning Advisory Board, Spending Affordability Committee, and the Budget Officer. A legislative session is also set for May 4, 2026, at 7 PM in the Council Chambers, as outlined in the County Council's FY27 budget schedule. Throughout May, the County Council will delve into the proposed operating and capital budgets through a series of review sessions, mostly held in the Council Chambers. These sessions will examine funding for various county agencies and departments. For instance, the May 11, 2026, session at 10 AM will feature presentations from Anne Arundel Community College, the Anne Arundel County Public Library, and the Board of Education. The following day, May 12, 2026, also at 10 AM, will focus on critical departments such as Health, Aging & Disabilities, Police, Animal Services, Fire, Sheriff, Detention, and OEM. Meeting documents, agendas, and minutes for these sessions will be made available on the FY27 Budget page. ## Your Voice Matters: Public Hearings Scheduled Residents eager to influence the FY27 budget will have several opportunities to provide input. The Anne Arundel County Council has scheduled multiple public hearings, with the first set for May 13, 2026, at 7 PM in the Council Chambers. To ensure broader community access, an additional hearing will be held on May 19, 2026, at 7 PM at Severn Run High School. This hearing will specifically address proposed property tax rates and their potential impact on residents. While the County Council's FY27 budget page will provide meeting documents, agendas, and minutes for these hearings, the proposed FY27 budget documents themselves do not yet detail the specific impact on individual property tax rates for Anne Arundel County residents. ## Accessing the Process: In-Person, Virtual, and Online For those unable to attend in person, some of the County Council's budget review meetings in May 2026 will offer virtual participation. Operating budget sessions on May 20 and May 21, both starting at 9 AM, are designated as virtual. These online sessions will cover departments such as Personnel, Budget, Finance, Planning & Zoning, Transportation, Recreation & Parks, Solid Waste, Utilities, and Public Works. The County Council encourages residents to engage with the process, whether attending in-person or virtually. Instructions for virtual meeting attendance, including Zoom pre-registration, are available on the County Council website. All Council meetings are also broadcast live on Arundel TV. While the meeting schedule clearly outlines which agencies will present on specific dates, the proposed FY27 budget documents do not yet specify the exact dollar amounts allocated to individual agencies or programs. ## Key Questions **When can residents provide feedback on the budget?** Residents can provide feedback at public hearings scheduled for May 13, 2026, at 7 PM in the Council Chambers and May 19, 2026, at 7 PM at Severn Run High School. **Where can residents find detailed budget documents?** The Anne Arundel County Council's FY27 Budget page on its website serves as a central location for meeting schedules, legislation links, and other relevant information.