Harford County's FY27 Budget: Public Hearing Set Seven Months Into Fiscal Year | The Locally Times
Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly plans to solicit public feedback for the FY27 budget, but the primary hearing is set for February 17, 2027 — seven months after the fiscal year begins on July 1, 2026.
Harford County residents seeking to influence the fiscal year 2027 (FY27) budget will have to wait until February 17, 2027, for the primary public hearing – seven months after the budget is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026. Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly announced plans to solicit public feedback for the upcoming budget, with the hearing set at North Harford High School. This unusual timeline raises questions about the impact of public input on how tax dollars will be allocated for services like public safety, infrastructure, and schools. ## Public Input Timeline Extends into FY27 Executive Cassilly plans to release a video inviting citizen input on the FY27 budget on July 1, 2026, the same day the fiscal year is scheduled to begin. However, the formal public hearing is not slated until February 17, 2027, placing it more than seven months into the fiscal year it addresses. A Harford County Government announcement from July 1, 2026, did not detail the specific content of the planned video message or outline alternative methods for residents to submit input outside of the February 2027 public hearing. North Harford High School, the designated venue, previously hosted the 2026 Agriculture Symposium on May 9, 2026. ## Details of Proposed Budget Remain Undisclosed Specific details of the proposed FY27 budget are not yet publicly available. The Harford County Government announcement does not specify the total budget amount, proposed tax changes, or key spending priorities. This absence of detailed financial documents means residents are asked to provide input without a comprehensive understanding of the county's fiscal plan. Records do not indicate when these specific budget documents will be made public, nor do they specify the topics for discussion at the February 2027 hearing. ## Harford County's Process Contrasts with Neighbors Harford County's budget engagement timeline differs significantly from neighboring jurisdictions. Howard County, for example, involves a Spending Affordability Advisory Committee that submits recommendations by March 1. Howard County also conducts two public hearings in December and March during its executive budget development phase. The Howard County Executive presents the proposed Capital budget by April 1 and the proposed Operating budget by April 20, with the County Council approving the final budget by June 1, as detailed in Howard County Bureau of Utilities records from April 6, 2026. Howard County further enhances transparency by posting its proposed capital and operating budgets for FY27 online. ## Key Questions **When can residents provide input on the Harford County FY27 budget?** A public hearing is set for February 17, 2027, at North Harford High School. Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly plans to release a video inviting citizen input on July 1, 2026. **Where can residents find specific details about the proposed budget?** The available records do not yet include specific details of the proposed FY27 budget, such as spending priorities or potential tax implications. **How does Harford County's budget timeline compare to other counties?** Howard County's budget process includes public hearings in December and March, with proposed budgets released by April and approved by June 1. Baltimore City held public engagement events for its FY27 budget in April 2026.