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ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced that Howard County Government has received a record 113 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo). That is the highest number of awards out of any county in the state, which received a collective 165 awards, and the highest number of annual NACo awards achieved in Maryland history. Additionally, the County was one of only three counties in the state to receive a “Best in Category” award, winning in the Information Technology category this year for the HoCo DASH 2.0 app.

NACo Achievement Awards are the premier national honor to recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new and impactful services for county residents, improve existing programs, upgrade working conditions, and enhance public participation and policymaking. The county’s 2026 awards span 16 of the 18 national award categories and recognize the initiatives and projects of more than 25 county departments and offices.

Since taking office in December of 2018, Ball has led the county to become a national leader in innovation and transformation, earning a total of 391 NACo awards across every program category and the significant majority of county departments and offices. The county has received five “Best in Category” Awards in the last six years ranging in topics from Information Technology to Emergency Management to Planning to Transportation.

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced Howard County is the first jurisdiction in Maryland to become a community solar developer, bringing discounted solar electricity to low- and moderate-income households. Photos from the event can be found on Howard County Government’s Flickr website and video on the County Executive’s Facebook page.

In his proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Capital Budget unveiled this past week, Ball included $14 million to advance five County-owned community solar projects that will produce a combined total of about five megawatts of electricity. This includes a:

1. Ground-mount solar array at the former Carrs Mill Landfill in western Howard County;
2. Solar parking canopy at the County’s Ascend One Building in Columbia; and
3. Solar parking canopies at the County’s Department of Recreation & Parks’ Blandair Regional Park and Cedar Lane Park in Columbia and Troy Park in Elkridge.

“This is what’s possible when we work together with purpose and partnership. Solar energy is lowering costs, improving air quality, and expanding opportunity. With leadership from Governor Moore and County Executive Calvin Ball, we’re not waiting—we’re building the future together,” said Maryland Secretary of Environment Serena McIlwain.

When completed at the end of 2027, the County plans to make half of the power generated at the Carrs Mill Landfill project available for free to low-income households. The County will in turn sell the power generated by the four solar parking canopy sites at a 25 discount to low- and moderate-income subscribers. This will help more than 500 low- and moderate-income households to lower their electric utility costs.

Only two percent of counties, among approximately 3,100 counties in the United States, earn this prestigious outlook

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Despite numerous rating downgrades across our nation, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced Howard County has once again earned the highest possible credit rating, AAA, from all three bond rating agencies – Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investor Services, and Standard & Poor’s. In 2026, Howard County again ranks among the top two percent of counties nationwide to earn this vote of confidence based on a stable outlook from experts. Being one of roughly 130 counties with this distinction among approximately 3,100 in the U.S. demonstrates that Howard County’s financial management is fiscally strong, trustworthy, and responsible.

“While federal impacts and tough fiscal realities and uncertainties continue to loom across our great state and country, Howard County stands as the ‘Gateway to opportunity’ having once again earned a AAA bond rating from all three credit rating agencies this week,” said Ball. “From our expanding international opportunities, booming local economy, and spurring new job growth, the state of Howard County remains strong thanks to the strategic decisions we continue to make to secure our present and future.”

After evaluating financial criteria including Economy/Tax base, Finances, Management, and Debt/Pensions, each agency issued a report that highlights Howard County’s strengths.

Fitch cited, “Howard County’s financial resilience is driven by the combination of its ‘High’ revenue control assessment and ‘Midrange’ expenditure control assessment, culminating in a ‘High Midrange’ budgetary flexibility assessment.” Additionally, “The overall strength of Howard County’s demographic and economic level indicators (unemployment rate, educational attainment, median household income [MHI]) in 2024 are assessed as ‘Strongest’ on a composite basis, performing at the 95th percentile of Fitch’s local government rating portfolio. This is due to relatively strong education attainment levels, median-issuer indexed adjusted MHI and unemployment rate.”

Moody’s highlighted, “The stable outlook reflects the likelihood that the county’s financial position will remain healthy, supported by steady revenue growth and strong management.”

Standard & Poor’s noted, “The county is a desirable, affluent community, with a very strong economy supported by a well-educated population, wealthy property tax base, high household incomes, and direct access to the Baltimore and Washington metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). In our opinion, these factors, along with surplus financial operations and comprehensive financial management policies and practices have allowed the county to weather economic downturns, experience good tax base and revenue growth, and underpin the ‘AAA’ rating.” Moreover, “Howard County has historically maintained steady financial performance with robust reserve levels throughout economic cycles. Conservative budgeting practices, formalized and well-adhered-to fiscal policies, active participation by the county’s 22-member Spending Affordability Advisory Committee, and a well-seasoned management team are all factors that have sustained the county’s sound financial position.”

“Howard County’s Triple A rating reaffirmation by all three major rating agencies is an extraordinary achievement! This milestone reflects the dedication and expertise of the Department of Finance team, as well as the strong leadership of County Executive Ball and his steadfast commitment to fiscal responsibility and prudent financial management,” said Rafiu Ighile, Director, Department of Finance. “A special thank you to the Finance team and the entire county for their collaboration in earning this prestigious recognition, which helps keep borrowing costs low and ensures we can continue funding critical projects that benefit our community.”