Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith challenged local state lawmakers to hold Gov.-elect Martin O?Malley to his commitment to reserve $400 million in school construction and renovation funds this year and secure at least $95 million for Baltimore County schools.
Speaking to the county?s General Assembly delegation ? invited to breakfast and Smith?s annual legislative “roll-out” Wednesday in Towson ? Smith said he also wants lawmakers to lobby for almost $10 million in state funds for park projects and double funding for state programs that benefit aging schools and disabled infants and toddlers.
After securing $85 million in construction funds last year, officials called Smith?s goals lofty but necessary.
“We always aim high,” said Del. Eric Bromwell, a Democrat from the county?s 8th district. “It?s certainly something we can shoot for.”
Baltimore County is home to the second-oldest school buildings in the state, with 25 of 27 high schools more than 30 years old. Smith said funds will support renovations at three middle schools and “nonglamorous” improvements like new boilers, windows, roofs and fire alarms at several others.
Smith said the county will aggressively support bills to make the proceeds of identity theft crimes subject to forfeiture and any effort to crack down on gang activity. He said he also wants to add forensic workers to a group legally protected if they are exposedto bodily fluids on the job.
“These forensic personnel put themselves in harm?s way to help keep our county safe and deserve the level of protection afforded to police officers, hospital workers and firefighters,” Smith said.
The county?s mostly Democratic delegation of 29 includes several Annapolis veterans, including Del. Adrienne Jones, who was named speaker pro tem and Sen. Ed Kasemeyer, the Senate?s majority leader. Four political newcomers, all Democrats, said they will likely spend most of the session, which starts next week, watching and learning.
Del. John Olszewski Jr., who replaced the late longtime Del. John Arnick, said he plans to propose legislation to keep convicted sex offenders at least 5 miles from schools.
STATE FUND REQUESTS
» $95 million for school construction and renovations
» $1.8 million for artificial turf fields at Northwest Regional Park, Meadowood Regional Park, Essex Campus of CCBC
» $825,000 for new athletic field lighting at County Home Park, General John Stricker Middle School, Shelbourne Park
» $1 million to complete the Heritage Trail in Dundalk and improve St. Helena Park
» $500,000 to complete the Eastern Regional Greenway to Marshy Point Park
» $2 million to complete the first phase of construction of Gough Park in Perry Hall
» $125,000 for design and construction of the Northeast Skate Park in the area of Belair Road and Rossville Boulevard
» $500,000 to install bleachers at the Randallstown High School and Milford Mill Academy football fields
» $1 million to beautify Eastern Boulevard in Essex-Middle River
» $2 million to develop an agricultural park off Shawan Road
