Reply The general fund, which supports the majority of government services, totals $1.26 billion, representing a 2.8 percent growth when excluding the use of fund balance. (Shutterstock) HOWARD COUNTY, MD — While the proposed $1.88 billion operating budget for the fiscal year 2022 for Howard County doesn't include tax increases, it does add a $50 million contingency in grant funds for potential new pandemic relief funding. The additional funding leads to a 6.8 percent increase from fiscal year 2021's budget. Howard County Executive Calvin Ball presented the budget Monday virtually before the County Council. The County Council will approve or reject countywide budgets in May. The general fund, which supports the majority of government services, totals $1.26 billion, representing a 2.8 percent growth when excluding the use of fund balance. The proposed budget also uses $59.1 million in fund balance from prior surplus to support one-time initiatives, including $30.3 million for critical infrastructure efforts like road resurfacing, the Ellicott City Safe and Sound Plan, the East Columbia 50+ Center expansion, school site acquisition, repairing deteriorating sidewalks and road construction.