The new Miller Branch library, continued renovations at Mt. Hebron High School, and beginning work on Troy and Blandair regional parks are among the big-ticket items slated to get money under this year’s leaner county capital budget.

On Wednesday, County Executive Kenneth Ulman unveiled his $392 million proposed capital budget for next fiscal year — about 7 percent lower than this year’s.
 
“I am pleased this year that we are able to make progress in so many key areas,” Ulman said. “We weren’t able to get everything in; we never are. But we are able to move forward with those priorities.”

But Ulman warned that cuts to other programs are expected when he releases his operating budget April 20.

Ulman originally asked each department to come up with both flat operating budgets and budgets with 5 percent cuts. Now, he said, 10 percent is more likely.

“We don’t have a choice. We’re looking at deep, deep cuts,” he said.

Anticipated cuts in state aid to Howard County of $12 million to $14 million being debated in the legislature have made the budget picture bleaker than expected, Ulman said. Layoffs and employee furloughs could be coming and “everything is on the table,” he added.

Fiscal year 2010 begins July 1.

In the capital budget, Ulman said public safety and schools were his top priorities. About $52.5 million is set aside for school district projects, with a priority on expanding capacity or continuing ongoing renovations.

Included is money for three Ellicott City schools: $16.6 million for continued renovations at Mt. Hebron High School, $11.1 million for renovations at Northfield Elementary School and $810,000 for an addition at Bellows Spring Elementary School. Stevens Forest Elementary and Hammond Elementary and Middle schools, all in Columbia, will also receive money.

Superintendent ‘appreciative’

“We’re appreciative of the ones that have received funding,” said Schools Superintendent Sydney Cousin. “We like to look at this as working collaboratively and cooperatively with the county.”

However, the budget includes less money than was requested for systemic renovations, such as for heating and air conditioning systems, and for technology, such as computers for teachers, Cousin said. Though spending money on these areas has been pushed back, the need still exists, he said.

On the public safety front, the budget includes $7.8 million for two new fire stations and the purchase of land for another future station.

One of the most expensive items on the list is $14.4 million for the new Miller Branch Library and Historical Center in Ellicott City. The library, which is already in the site plan and design phase, is the only library construction project on the list.

“That’s a project that’s much needed for the county, especially in the Ellicott City area,” said Ulman, who went to middle and high school near the library. “It was crowded when I grew up here. It hasn’t gotten any less crowded.”

County Council Chairwoman Mary Kay Sigaty said she, too, was pleased to see money for the new library.

“We see increased usage at the library as the result of tougher times,” she said.

Sigaty said she also was glad the county plans to continue funding ongoing projects, such as the renovation of county offices in Ellicott City. About $6.5 million is set aside in the coming fiscal year for construction expenses.

The budget includes $5.3 million for the first phase of Blandair Regional Park in Columbia, $1.6 million for the first phase of Troy Regional Park in Elkridge and $1 million for outdoor recreation facilities at the North Laurel Community Center.

Money for HCC

Howard Community College is set to get $4.3 million, part of which will go to complete the renovation of the Student Services Building. The remaining $2 million is for a planned Health Sciences Building to accommodate the growing nursing and medical programs, Ulman said.

The college is hoping the state will match the $2 million, but if the state money is not available, the county money will be shifted to other needs at the school, Ulman said.

The budget also includes $4.5 million for road resurfacing around the Oakland Mills, Dorsey’s Search, Long Reach and Owen Brown village centers, $100,000 for the Ellicott City Visitor’s Center and $150,000 to study improvements at the intersection of Snowden River and Broken Land parkways.

Some requested projects would not receive money in Ulman’s budget, including dance studios at Hammond and Centennial high schools, and a project to transform the former Cedar Lane School into a community center.

The county will be seeking $100 million in bonds, the same amount the county sought last fiscal year and the number recommended by the county’s spending affordability committee. The county is projecting up to $109 million will be available through the federal stimulus and other grants for projects, though Ulman said this figure is optimistic.

The county wanted to move forward with some construction projects in part because the recession has meant that construction companies are putting in lower bids than in the past, which reduces the overall costs of some projects, Ulman said.

A public hearing on the capital budget, excluding projects related to schools, libraries and the college, is scheduled for April 14 at 7 p.m. in the Department of Education Board Room, 10910 Route 108, Ellicott City. The County Council will hold hearings on Ulman’s budget throughout April and May, and is scheduled to approve the final version May 20.
The budget can be found online at www.howardcountymd.gov.

---

user comments (0)