The House Capital Budget Subcommittee has approved the full $400 million requested by Gov. Martin O?Malley for public school construction, and another $410 million for other major projects throughout the state.
During the so-called “begathon” in January before the Board of Public Works, state and local officials from every jurisdiction in the state pleaded for more aid to build and renovate school buildings. But the additional funds are actually approved by the House and Senate as part of the budget process.
This is the largest amount ever appropriated for school construction, a campaign promise by O?Malley, but the $400 million is still billions less than the total requested by the school districts, and reflects only their top priorities, according to committee members.
Outside of public schools, the largest projects funded are three new buildings at Coppin State University in Baltimore, totaling $97 million and including an $89 million physical education complex to be partially funded by $15 million in revenue bonds. There is also $13.5 million for a College of Liberal Arts complex at Towson University.
The House committee also recommended funding for a number of projects at Johns Hopkins University and its hospital, including $7.5 million for the critical care tower and $5 million for the pediatric trauma center. There is $5.8 million budgeted for the Harford County Detention Center. Other than public school construction, few of the projects funded in the capital budget are in the Washington suburbs. There is $2 million to help fund the relocation of the Birchmere Music Hall to Silver Spring, and several small projects related to the University of Maryland at its College Park and Shady Grove campuses.
