Commissioners signed off Thursday on a plan to sell 50 percent more in bonds than they did last fiscal year.
The $80 million in bonds that the county approved last year fell far below what it needed to extend to this year?s bills, said Ted Zaleski, the county?s budget director.
So commissioners needed to authorize $120 million in bonds to cover the building projects they planned to carry out in fiscal 2009.
“It sounds like an astronomical number, but at the same time if you see a high school costs 80 million dollars, you think twice,” said Commissioner Julia Gouge.
Construction on Manchester Valley High School, which is completely county funded, tops the list of projects for next year. It costs $80 million, and Zaleski said nextyear?s portion is expected to cost the county about $36 million.
The county already committed to plans for construction projects that span multiple years, and since last year?s bonds did not match the costs, Zaleski recommended the county make up the difference this year.
“If nothing else happens, you would not be able to move ahead with … the decisions you?ve already made,” he said.
In future years, he recommended bond sales match the budget.
The county?s state delegation will next need to approve the $120 million for the bonds to go to sale.
A public hearing with the delegation is to be held Saturday.
Top construction projects next year
» Top construction projects next fiscal year
» Manchester Valley High School $36 million
» South Carroll High fine arts addition $15 million
» Westminster High air conditioning: $14 million
» Agricultural land preservation: $9 million
» Reservoir development: $8 million
» Community college classroom #4: $6.5 million
