Two of Maryland?s lawmakers are sending mixed messages on how much federal aid the state can expect when dealing with military base growth, leaving the affected counties in the middle.
Even as U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski met with county officials around the state touting her efforts to expand a federal school funding program, House Majority Leader U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer has said the state will have to do most of the work because it will benefit from the government?s largesse.
“Although we clearly are going to be working as a delegation to assist in making the BRAC move easier for us, the state needs to be in a position … to shoulder a majority of the load, because it is the one being advantaged,” Hoyer said earlier this week.
Mikulski met with Howard County Executive Ken Ulman on Jan. 29 to announce her efforts to expand the Impact Aid program, which provides federal school funding to areas supporting large military populations. She also met with Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold on Monday.
Howard County spokesman Kevin Enright said officials were aware of Hoyer?s sentiments but declined to comment.
Mikulski is expected to continue working toward expanding the program, said Melissa Schwartz, Mikulski?s communications director.
In addition to helping to fund school expansions for as many as 25,312 new households, the federal government usually picks up about 80 percent of the bill for transportation projects, said Robert Lieb, Anne Arundel?s BRAC manager.
Harford County and its allies in Cecil and Baltimore counties ? which together created the Chesapeake Science and Security Corridor ? will continue to seek funding, said Karen Emery, Harford County?s BRAC manager.
The Associated Press and Examiner Staff Writer Sara Michael contributed to this story.
