A shortage of state funding for local projects will likely force Baltimore County officials to send some plans to the chopping block, lawmakers said.
Members of the county?s House delegation, who said the county is unlikely to receive all of its $9.75 million request, are considering several projects including new parks, lighting and stadium seating for high schools and an agricultural center.
Delegation Chairman Eric Bromwell, D-District 8, said lawmakers will work with county administrators to determine which projects most urgently need state assistance.
“I know this is going to be a tough year for bond bills because some of that money is going to be diverted to balance the budget,” Bromwell said. “It will put off projects for a year,but I think it?s far more reasonable than raising fees and taxes.”
The county last year received $7.5 million of a $13.4 million request, according to county spokesman Don Mohler. This year?s requests focus on continuing several recreation and parks initiatives, including building artificial turf fields and new athletic field lighting and installing stadium seating at two high schools.
Several county department heads including David Carroll, director of the county?s Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management, promoted the projects to state lawmakers Friday.
He testified on behalf of the county?s most expensive request: $2 million for a planned agricultural center near Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville.
“Citizens and students can come see what it takes to run a real farm,” Carroll said. “People fail to realize, in Baltimore County especially, agriculture is getting very diverse and is changing very quickly.”
Carroll said almost 30 companies are interested in designing the facility, which will consolidate farming-related agencies such as an extension service, a 4-H club, and a satellite office of the state?s agricultural department. Most of the 129-acre parcel will be a working farm, and equestrian and walking paths also are planned.
Lawmakers also are considering funding requests from private sources, including $3 million to support a new center in Lutherville for cancer patients and a therapeutic facility in Owings Mills for people with cerebral palsy.
