County Executive Says Elkridge Center Will Stay Open

County Executive Ken Ulman assured the public this week that the was in no danger of closing.

Ulman raised the issue during an  in Elkridge on April 10, the day that Maryland's "" passed in Annapolis. More than $500 million in budget cuts are set to go into effect as of July 1.

Speaking before a crowd gathered in front of the  about a  he said would enhance citizens' quality of life, Ulman paused to address one contingent's concern.

"To my friends with the sign here, we're not closing any senior centers," said Ulman, looking to a cluster of older adults holding a handmade sign saying: "Don't close our center."

According to Ulman, a closure wasn't on the horizon but a new senior center is.

"We're going to build better, bigger senior centers like we " said Ulman. "We're going to bring one to the northeastern part of Howard County in the next few years as well."

In his FY 2013 capital budget proposal, Ulman allocated $5 million to renovate the Savage library in the southern part of the county, including a senior center.

The county recently spent $5.1 million constructing the  in northern Howard and relocating its Ellicott City senior center.

The Elkridge library in the northeast, which has been on the books since 2004 as in need of renovation along with the senior center, hasn't been funded in the county executive's proposed FY 2013 capital budget.

The County Council is hosting a budget hearing during which citizens can weigh in on Ulman's plan at 7:30 p.m. on April 16 and at 9 a.m. on May 12. Citizens can also submit testimony online.