In Howard County, a constant pursuit of efficiency and effectiveness has led to the establishment of a new Department of General Services (DGS). This move consolidates key functions under the former Department of Public Works. Announced by Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, this consolidation aims to unify various operations related to the county's real estate, buildings, and leased spaces. "Our new DGS will allow Howard County Government to build a holistic and strategic vision of the County’s real estate, buildings, and leased space in order to better serve our residents," Ball said, according to the Howard County official announcement.
The blending of responsibilities is expected to enhance communication, collaboration, and coordination, which the county's vast organizational repertoire, encompassing land acquisitions, maintenance, and waste management, may have previously lacked. By streamlining operations, the DGS aims to be more responsive to residents and the Howard County Council. The County's fiscal budget for 2026 has made provisions for this transformation, with funds allocated following the approval of Council Bill 9-2025 in March.
The new department is organized into four bureaus: Real Estate Management, Planning, Design and Construction, Operations and Maintenance, and Contracts and Security. These restructured bureaus each hold functions formerly managed by divisions of the Department of Public Works yet now strive for a more integrated approach to handling the county's infrastructure and land interests. Howard County joins the roster alongside Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, and Montgomery counties, which have all adopted similar approaches to managing their public assets.
For further inquiries or to contact the DGS, emails can be directed to [email protected], providing a direct line for Howard County residents to their new hub of general services.
