Politics & Government

Ulman's Proposes Funds for New Elkridge Branch Library

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman unveiled the fiscal year 2014 budget on Monday.

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman unveiled a $442.4 million capital budget on Monday that would dedicate a significant amount of funds for upgrades at schools, including at Deep Run Elementary, Bellows Spring Elementary, Elkridge Landing Elementary and Rockburn Branch Elementary -- in addition to $23.25 million for construction of Elkridge's new middle school.

In addition, the fiscal year 2014 capital budget proposal includes $2 million for a new, 35,000-square-foot Elkridge Branch Library.

Fiscal year 2014 begins July 1.

Find out what's happening in Elkridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Here's a look at some of the additional Elkridge projects in Ulman's proposed budget:

  • $9.8 million to relocate Fire Station 1
  • $6.8 toward design and construction of Troy Regional Park
  • $500,000 toward noise abatement in Lawyer's Hill

In a statement announcing the release of the budget, Ulman said, "With interest rates low, now is exactly the right time to commit to the future of our children and communities, to protect our environment and to make sure we are maintaining what we already have."

Find out what's happening in Elkridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The plan also allocates $14.4 million for stormwater projects in the county and $50 million for agricultural land preservation in the county, according to the statement.

New debt taken on to pay for the improvements would total $118.4 million in General Obligation bond funding, according to figures provided by the County Executive's office.

County-wide spending was broken down into the following categories:

  • Environmental protection - $64.5 million
  • Education - $104.7 million
  • Recreation and Parks - $23 million
  • Public safety - $11.6 million
  • Roads, sidewalks and traffic - $24.5 million
  • Water and sewer projects - $156.7 million

Other large projects in the county that are proposed in the budget:

  • $6.9 million for Blandair Park phase two
  • $17.8 million for a new science and engineering building at Howard Community College
  • $1.8 to convert the former Miller Branch Library into administrative offices
  • $4.1 in capital improvements to Ellicott City's Historic District

 

Look to Patch for more budget coverage later this week as we examine the full capital budget proposal.

This article has been edited to indicate the amount of proposed spending on noise abatement in FY2014 is $500,000


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