The state?s proposed $14 million for seven school construction projects was less than what Howard school officials requested but more than what they expected in tight budget times.
“Last year, the state upped the amount for school construction projects in Howard County to almost $26 million,” said school board Vice Chairwoman Ellen Flynn Giles.
“We knew we weren?t going to get that this year.”
The school system had asked the state for $38.9 million this year, said school system spokeswoman Patti Caplan.
The school projects were included in Gov. Martin O?Malley?s proposed fiscal year 2009 capital budget that totaled $31.6 million for all projects in the county.
Only certain projects are eligible for state funding. Ongoing projects, such as renovations at Clemens Crossing and Worthington elementary schools, are most likely to continue receiving money, Giles said.
“Once the state has made a commitment to funding a project, they?re pretty good at following through,” she said.
The Mount Hebron High School renovation was not among the projects receiving funding because design documents need to be finalized, Giles said.
The school board recommended budgeting $27 million for renovations in fiscal 2009.
“In general, we can get state money for kindergarten, growth and for adding seats,” she said.
“It?s not likely for a straight-out renovation [like Mount Hebron].
The school system can appeal for more state money before the Board of Public Works later this month.
The Howard Community College also received a huge boost in state aid.
The campus? James Clark Jr. Library Building, the first building constructed on the campus in 1970, was included in the budget proposal, said college spokesman Randy Bengfort.
The proposed state funds are expected to cover about half the cost of the $16 million renovation project, set to be finished at the end of 2009, where labs and classrooms will be added and the library will be renovated, Bengfort said.
The amount in the state?s proposal was exactly what the college requested, he said.
