Howard County School Construction Budget is Tight

The director of facilities for the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) told the County Council this week that a capital budget plan for 2013 is going to be a "stretch" and hard decisions are ahead. 

"There will be some things in this budget that won’t be funded," Ken Roey said in presenting the 2013 proposals along with the 2014–2018 capital improvement plan to the County Council. "We’ll be facing some tough decisions."

The $98.7 million budget for capital projects in 2013 lists seven major endeavors:

• New elementary school for northeast
• New middle school for northeast
• Atholton High School renovations
• Phelps Luck Elementary renovations
• Longfellow Elementary renovations
• Gorman Crossing addition
• Running Brook Elementary addition

In addition to those projects, which total $64 million, there is approximately $35 million in the budget dedicated to systemic renovations, roofing, portable classrooms, playground equipment, technology and other expenditures.

Councilwoman Courtney Watson (D-Elkridge/Ellicott City) asked whether the elementary and middle schools in the northeast would be able to progress.

"Do you feel that we will have sufficient funding to get both of those schools moving in addition to the other projects you have in this budget, including the Atholton High School renovation, Phelps Luck renovation, Stephens Forest renovation?" asked Watson.

According to the 2013 budget proposal, Howard County must contribute $17 million for the elementary school construction to be completed; $13 million has already been set aside from a previous budget.

The school system is requesting $12.8 million for the new middle school in the northeast.

"I think it’s certainly going to be a stretch," said Roey. "It’s going to take some very difficult decisions by the executive and yourselves," he said, addressing the council.

HCPSS made an offer of $2.64 million for that was accepted, according to Joel Gallihue, manager of school planning, at the Oct. 4 school board meeting. Designated as the future elementary school for the northeast, the project is in the design and development phase, according to offiicals, and will open by 2013.

School planners are proposing a middle school site to the school board at its .

The site they will propose is located in , a development on Coca Cola Drive. HCPSS accepted donated land for a school in Oxford Square last year from developers. However, school board members opted not to put an elementary school on the site since .

Video of the Howard County Council meeting is streamed online here.