Ulman's Budget Proposes Funds for Atholton Renovation, Blandair Park

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman unveiled a $442.4 million capital budget on Monday that would dedicate a significant amount of funds for upgrades at schools, including Atholton High School, Longfellow Elementary, Running Brook Elementary and Wilde Lake Middle School in Columbia.

In addition, the fiscal year 2014 capital budget proposal includes funds to build the second phase of Blandair Park.

Nearly $20 million in funds is proposed for a new science and engineering building at Howard Community College.

Also, the plan earmarks funds for a new home for the Howard County Economic Development Authority and the Maryland Center for Entrepreneurship in Downtown Columbia.  Fiscal year 2014 begins July 1.

Ulman proposed the following dollar amounts for large Columbia projects:

• $20 million for renovation of Atholton High School
• $11 million for Longfellow Elementary School renovation
• $5.3 million for Running Brook Elementary School renovation
• $2.7 million for Wilde Lake Middle School renovation
• $6.9 million for Blandair Park phase two
• $17.8 million for a new science and engineering building at Howard Community College

In a statement announcing the release of the budget, Ulman said, "With interest rates low, now is exactly the right time to commit to the future of our children and communities, to protect our environment and to make sure we are maintaining what we already have."

The plan also allocates $14.4 million for stormwater projects in the county and $50 million for agricultural land preservation, according to the statement.

New debt taken on to pay for the improvements would total $118.4 million in General Obligation bond funding, according to figures provided by the County Executive's office.

County-wide spending was broken down into the following categories:

• Environmental protection - $64.5 million
• Education - $104.7 million
• Recreation and Parks - $23 million
• Public safety - $11.6 million
• Roads, sidewalks and traffic - $24.5 million
• Water and sewer projects - $156.7 million

Other large projects in the county that are proposed in the budget:

• New Elkridge middle school - $23.3 million
• Deep Run Elementary School (Elkridge) renovation - $20 million
• New Elkridge branch library - $2 million
• Troy Regional Park in Elkridge - $6.8 million
• New Elkridge fire station - $9.8 million

Look to Patch for more budget coverage later this week as we examine the full capital budget proposal.