Howard County bill would require audits, a two-year track record and a public database from nonprofits that receive county grants
Council Bill 58-2026, by Council Member Deb Jung, had its public hearing Sept. 22, where leaders of nonprofits that serve county residents testified against it as written. No amendments had been filed by Sept. 29, and the council has not voted.
Ellicott City. Nonprofits seeking grants from Howard County, Md., would need two years of experience in the service they want funded, would file more financial and staffing information, and would have their grant agreements and reports posted in a public database, under a bill the County Council heard Sept. 22.
Council Bill 58-2026 was introduced Sept. 8 by Council Member Deb Jung, a Democrat from District 4, and would take effect 61 days after enactment. The council's record showed no amendments filed as of Sept. 29.
What grantees would file
Applications would go through one online platform. Each would include two years of federal returns, including those of legally connected nonprofits and corporations, or compiled financial statements if it is not required to file; the people who would do the funded work, with their duties and pay; any contract with a registered lobbyist; and overhead costs.
A grantee with less than $500,000 in gross income from charitable contributions would submit an annual program report and compiled financial statements, and one at $500,000 or more a program report and an independent audit. The county could audit any report. The database would list every county grant with its amount, purpose and agreement, grantees' audits and reports and, for service grants, participant qualifications and enrollment information.
Grants to build on or redevelop real property would need at least 25 percent of project costs from private or non-county sources, a performance bond or other security, and payment by construction milestones.
What nonprofits told the council
Christy Page, chief development officer of Rebuilding Together Howard County, wrote that independent audits typically cost $8,000 to $15,000 or more. She and Jessamine Duvall, executive director of Bridges to Housing Stability, said the county's threshold would be stricter than the state's. Since July 1, Maryland has required an audit with a charity's registration at $1 million or more in contributions, up from $750,000.
The Association of Community Services of Howard County said the two-year rule would block new services for emerging needs. Dawn Popp, a board member of HopeWorks of Howard County, which serves survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, testified for herself that the database makes no exception for sensitive information such as shelter locations.
“This program, like many others, cannot absorb sweeping new requirements on a 61-day clock.”
The Howard County Citizens Association, a civic group, backed the bill. In a Sept. 23 addendum to the fiscal analysis, the county administration said one department pays about $31,000 a year for grant software for two offices, and that one system for all of county government "could be significant" in cost.
Ms. Jung told CBS Baltimore she would meet separately with nonprofits and draft amendments, Hoodline reported.
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