Ball requests $5 million for Howard County library planning

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball is seeking $5 million in state funds for the planning of a new Central Library branch. He is asking the County Council to release this money from a special contingency fund set aside for the project. The funds were originally approved in the 2024 fiscal budget for the library's design. Ball stated that the additional funding will help identify a final site and advance planning for the library. The project is part of the 2010 Downtown Columbia Plan. Plans for the library include a 100,000 square-foot facility at the Columbia Lakefront, next to the Howard Hughes Corp. Ball hopes to break ground by 2026. However, the project's cost of around $144 million has raised concerns among residents. To gather community input, the county hired a consulting firm. They conducted a survey and held public meetings, receiving feedback on the project. About 1,500 people participated, with many favoring the current central library site or the Lakefront site. As planning progresses, the county is also looking into funding options and parking solutions for the project. The existing Central Library, which hasn’t had a major renovation in decades, is facing numerous maintenance issues. It recorded 350 repair requests since January 2024, mostly for elevator problems. The county has already invested over $5 million in the library project, with a portion spent on community engagement. Ball emphasized the need to replace the outdated Central Library, which is in urgent need of upgrades.