Baltimore County lawmakers counted school and transportation funding among their greatest successes during the tumultuous session in Annapolis, saying such positives outweighed negatives like failed attempts to block a liquid natural gas plant in Sparrows Point and close the debate on juvenile detention centers.
County legislators increased $15 million for new school construction to $35 million, and secured $2 million for renovations. Legislators also touted the Hometown Hero Act ?which reduces income taxes for retired emergency workers ? and new restrictions on where group homes can be located.
“It?s a major, significant, wholesale revamp of the group home process,” said Del. Dan Morhaim, D-District 11. “I?m thrilled.”
Though lawmakers will likely hammer out an agreement on the proposed Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. rate hikes in special session, Del. Patrick McDonough, R-District 7, said he ignited the debate by introducing a bill that would cap the increase at 5 percent per year.
“The so-called merger was moving on a fast track behind closed doors,” McDonough said. “Nobody was talking about this, so it was important that it be done.”
Democrats who realigned about $2 million for a new juvenile detention center in Baltimore County to Prince George?s called the move a success, saying it might force Gov. Robert Ehrlich to reopen the blighted Hickey School and thwart attempts to open a center in Catonsville or Owings Mills.
But Republicans who supported Ehrlich?s decision last year to close Hickey said they were disappointed.
“This puts us another year behind,” said Del. John Cluster, R-District 8.
The parties also dueled over a proposed liquid natural gas plant in Sparrows Point near Dundalk. A Democratic-sponsored Senate bill that would restrict plants from within two miles of a residential neighborhood was shredded into a task force to study the issue.
Lawmakers also said state issues could have devastating effects on county residents. Cluster said a vote to block the state?s takeover of 11 city schools could put $171 million in federal education funds at risk, with Baltimore County named as the third-biggest loser in the deal.
