The Howard County Police Department plans to discontinue its aviation program as the county faces a $108 million budget deficit.It is expected that the program will end April 30, according to a statement released Wednesday by the county executive's office.Police said the decision will not impact public safety."My No. 1 priority is keeping our residents safe. This common-sense change allows us to address our fiscal realities, without sacrificing that safety," County Executive Calvin Ball said in a statement."Due to budget constraints, it is now time to consider more cost-effective options. But with the resources available to us through partner agencies, this will be a seamless transition that won't affect the services provided to the public," Police Chief Lisa Myers said in a statement.Ball recently directed all county departments to find savings in their budgets. By discontinuing the aviation program, the county will save more than $300,000 in fiscal year 2020, and over the next four years the savings will total nearly $1.8 million.The county also plans to sell the 12-year-old aircraft, which has a current estimated value of about $1.5 million."It is difficult to lose an asset as valuable as our Aviation Unit. A tough fiscal climate forces leaders to make difficult decisions," Pfc. Chris Davis, president of the Howard County Police Officers' Association, said in a statement. "But we are thankful that County Executive Ball and Chief Myers are committed to our agency's greatest asset: the men and women in uniform."

The Howard County Police Department plans to discontinue its aviation program as the county faces a $108 million budget deficit.

It is expected that the program will end April 30, according to a statement released Wednesday by the county executive's office.


Police said the decision will not impact public safety.

"My No. 1 priority is keeping our residents safe. This common-sense change allows us to address our fiscal realities, without sacrificing that safety," County Executive Calvin Ball said in a statement.

"Due to budget constraints, it is now time to consider more cost-effective options. But with the resources available to us through partner agencies, this will be a seamless transition that won't affect the services provided to the public," Police Chief Lisa Myers said in a statement.

Ball recently directed all county departments to find savings in their budgets. By discontinuing the aviation program, the county will save more than $300,000 in fiscal year 2020, and over the next four years the savings will total nearly $1.8 million.

The county also plans to sell the 12-year-old aircraft, which has a current estimated value of about $1.5 million.

"It is difficult to lose an asset as valuable as our Aviation Unit. A tough fiscal climate forces leaders to make difficult decisions," Pfc. Chris Davis, president of the Howard County Police Officers' Association, said in a statement. "But we are thankful that County Executive Ball and Chief Myers are committed to our agency's greatest asset: the men and women in uniform."