Executive Summary

FY27 State Operating Budget 

The Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA) is the state’s primary tool for balancing the budget and making the policy changes needed to support its financial plan. In FY2027, the BRFA reflects a more cautious fiscal environment with a modest increase for community colleges, but limited growth and constrained funding in future years. As currently passed, the BRFA establishes a 3% funding cap in state support in FY28 and FY29. Through the Senator John A. Cade Funding Formula, community colleges as a whole received $438,855,046 in the state’s FY27 operating budget. 

Howard Community College received $34,939,725, a 3% increase of $1,017,662. 

Notably, approximately $1 million in funding for the PROMISE Scholarship was restored during deliberations through coordinated advocacy efforts. 

FY27 State Capital Budget 

In the FY27 Capital Budget, Howard Community College received $2.1 million for the Cathy and Danny Bell Workforce Development and Trades Center. The college also received $354,281 from the Facilities Renewal Grant Program which will fund infrastructure improvements within the college. 

Outlook 

As an institution serving more than 22,000 students annually, continued engagement with state and local partners is essential to ensure that funding levels remain aligned with enrollment trends, workforce development demands, and the college’s mission to support student success and economic mobility. 

Community colleges are the economic engines of our communities and as open enrollment institutions, we serve everyone. 

At a time when our community colleges continue enrollment growth trends, capping future funding is incongruent with the state’s current educational policy and economic competitiveness goals. 

In addition to budget outcomes, the session advanced several pieces of legislation impacting student access, workforce development, financial aid, and economic growth. HCC worked in close coordination with the Maryland Association of Community Colleges (MACC) and statewide partners to advance policies which were reinforced through student and leadership engagement, including Student Advocacy Day and committee testimony. 

At the local level, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball has proposed fully funding the college’s priorities in his FY27 Operating and Capital budgets. 

The college will continue to work closely with the Howard County Council as they finalize the County budget to ensure alignment with institutional needs and strategic priorities. This request includes $47.2 million in operational funding, a $1.3 million increase, and $3 million in capital funding.