Schools, Guns and Transportation Top Kamenetz 2013 Agenda

School construction, gun control initiatives and transportation projects will be the focus of County Executive Kevin Kamenetz's 2013 General Assembly priorities.

The county executive is expected to announce a list of priorities later today and dicuss them during a noon appearance on the Midday with Dan Rodricks show on WYPR radio.

The priority list is expected to include $128 million in school construction projects including air conditioning requests for eight schools:

• Timonium Elementary
• Fort Garrison Elementary
• Middleborough Elementary
• Franklin Elementary
• Sussex Elementary
• Hebbville Elementary
• Woodmoor Elementary
• Middlesex Elementary

Gov. Martin O'Malley announced that his budget for the year begining July 1 would include a proposed $336 million for school construction and renovation projects. The announcement at Overlea High School included $25 million for air conditioning projects in schools around the state.

Baltimore County is unlikely to receive state funding for its entire request. Last year, the county received about $50 million or 12.8 percent of the total amount of state funds available in the current budget year.

Kamemetz is also asking legislators to address legislation dealing with background checks for firearms, military-grade assault weapons and high capacity ammunition magazines.

The county executive also is expected to ask state legislators for transportation funding geared toward three areas:

• Expanded MARC Train Station in Middle River
• Improvements to Reisterstown Road and its associated intersections
• Improvements to I-695 and I-83