Howard Community College could receive $3 million more in county funding for its visual and performing arts center, student services building and parking garage.
“I?m a music major, and we are incredibly excited about that building. Student Services will also be an incredible asset, and we?re getting a 500-car parking garage,” said Daniel Pretz, president of the college?s Student Government Association.
Howard County Executive James Robey has proposed $20 million for the college?s $65 million operating budget for fiscal 2007, which begins July 1, said Kate Hetherington, executive vice president at the college.
About $1.8 million of the college?s funding will cover the buildings? operating costs, including staffing, maintenance, security and utility costs. The three buildings are:
» The Peter and Elizabeth Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center, 78,000-square-foot building for dance rooms, recital studios and graphic arts
» Student services building, 104,000-square-foot building for registration, a welcome center, bookstore, financial aid office and other administrative offices
» Parking garage, space for 500 cars
The visual and performing arts center and parking garage are slated to open in the fall, followed by the student services center in
February 2007.
To deal with the limited space at the college, officials have been housing their programs in various buildings throughout campus, as well as using trailers, said Hetherington.
“We used a basement in one building for our bookstore,” she said.
Operating Costs for new buildings
» The Peter and Elizabeth Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center, $936,500
» Student services building, $809,000 (half of fiscal 2007)
» Parking garage, $91,800
