Harford County Residents: Your Voice Shapes FY27 Budget | The Locally Times
Your input at the February 17, 2027, hearing directly impacts local taxes, schools, and public safety, guiding how County Executive Bob Cassilly allocates funds for the upcoming fiscal year.
Harford County residents hold the power to shape their community's future, with a critical public hearing set for February 17, 2027, offering a direct voice in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget. This budget, governing county spending from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, directly impacts everything from local taxes to schools and public safety. County Executive Bob Cassilly is expected to release a video on July 1, 2026, inviting citizen input, emphasizing the crucial role of community engagement in financial planning. ## Your Voice Matters: The FY27 Budget Hearing The public hearing on February 17, 2027, at 6:30 p.m. at North Harford High School, provides a formal avenue for residents to contribute to the budget planning process. A Harford County Government meeting record indicates Executive Cassilly will release a video on July 1, 2026, specifically to solicit public input for the fiscal year 2027 budget. This hearing represents a pivotal moment for community engagement in the county's financial planning. Records do not yet detail specific budget proposals or preliminary spending allocations. The hearing's location at North Harford High School aims to maximize community accessibility. ## Direct Impact: Shaping County Spending Priorities Citizen input into the budget process directly impacts local taxes and the quality of services provided by the county. These services include essential areas such as schools, public safety, and infrastructure projects. Resident participation can help advocate for specific priorities, influencing how county funds are allocated across various departments and programs. The opportunity to provide feedback before the budget's finalization allows residents to contribute to decisions that affect their daily lives and the long-term value of their property within Harford County. The budget document itself, once released, will detail proposed expenditures and revenue sources, directly correlating to the services the county can offer and the tax burden on its residents. Engaging in this process ensures that community needs and concerns are considered in the allocation of taxpayer money. ## Beyond Harford: Regional Budget Processes Underway Harford County's budget process aligns with similar efforts in neighboring jurisdictions as they prepare for their respective fiscal years. Carroll County, for example, is conducting its fiscal year 2027 agency hearings, with one such hearing scheduled for tomorrow, March 26, 2026. Queen Anne's County has scheduled multiple budget work sessions throughout March and April 2026 to develop its upcoming fiscal year budget. These include work sessions on March 26, March 31, and April 9, 2026, all focused on budget development. Howard County's Budget Office also maintains publications for current and previous approved and proposed budgets, indicating a continuous cycle of financial planning and transparency across the region. These concurrent activities highlight the ongoing financial planning and public engagement efforts for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, across multiple Maryland counties. ## Key Questions **When is the public hearing for the FY27 budget?** The public hearing is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2027, at North Harford High School. **When does the FY27 budget take effect?** The fiscal year 2027 budget will take effect on July 1, 2026. **How can residents provide input?** Residents can provide input by attending the public hearing or by engaging with the video invitation expected from County Executive Bob Cassilly.