November 5th is election day around the nation. According to many political pundits, this election is the most consequential of our time. At the same time, in Howard County, there is a Charter Amendment on the ballot, which has escaped the notice of many voters.
There are several political and civic groups in the County that desire the people to approve of this measure, which would allow the County Council to create the Office of the Inspector General. On the ballot the measure is listed as Question A.
Among the groups in favor of Question A, is Howard County Citizens Association (HCCA).
Those who occupy the position of Inspector General in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, have been prominent in the news over the past couple of years. The reasons for the news coverage deals with Inspectors General uncovering waste, mismanagement, and fraud in those jurisdictions.
Montgomery County and Prince George’s County also have Inspectors General for their jurisdictions.
Currently, Howard County does not have an official, independent watchdog to provide oversight of our elected officials. Around the County there has been talk of a lack of transparency within Howard County Government. But without a source of investigative journalism and no other independent source to review Government business, the accusations have continued unabated.
On the other side of the spectrum, some strong supporters of County Executive Calvin Ball, have claimed that the rise of Question A indicates a direct assault on Ball and his leadership.
Liz Walsh, Howard County Council Vice Chair, D-District 1, introduced legislation to create the independent Office of Inspector General in July 2024.
In an email released in July, Walsh explained the need for the legislation. She said, “This initiative represents a major step forward in our commitment to making local government more transparent, accountable and efficient.”
Regarding the purpose, she said, “The proposed Office of the Inspector General (OIG) will serve as an independent entity with the authority to investigate organizations funded by the County. It’s main goal will be to uncover and address instances of waste, fraud and abuse, ensuring taxpayer dollars are used wisely for the benefit of our community.
The actual wording of Question A on the ballot is as follows:
Amending the County Charter to create an independent Office of Inspector General to provide increased accountability and oversight of county government and county funded organizations. The Inspector General would investigate fraud, waste and abuse, and identify ways to promote efficiency, accountability, compliance and integrity. The office would do its work without interference from the County Executive and County Council. The office could hire legal, financial and technical advisors as needed. The Executive’s proposed budget would have to include the funding requested by the Inspector General, and the Executive could not reorganize the office. The County Council would pass a law to specify the details of the office, including the appointment, removal and oversight of the Inspector General. The law may also provide for the use of a Council appointed board.
If voters approve the measure and the Council enacts the law, Howard County will have an Inspector General and an Advisory Board consisting of citizens appointed by the executive and legislative branches. The Board will be bipartisan.
In a recent press release, HCCA stated,
A “Yes” vote on Question A enables the Howard County Council to establish an independent Inspector General. Inspector Generals in Montgomery County, Prince Georges County and Baltimore City have recovered millions of dollars for residents by investigating government fraud, waste and abuse.
Efficient, effective and measured spending is beneficial to all; Democrats, Republicans and Independents. Expert analysis is necessary to achieve current, and future, county programs and budget successes.
Howard County’s annual budget is over $2 Billion. A Howard County independent Inspector General is needed to check on “where the money is going”.
Vote “Yes” on Question A.
On July 26, 2024, the entire Council held a press conference showing unanimous support for the effort. Others in favor of Question A include former local politicians Liz Bobo and Allan Kittleman.
