The House of Delegates on Thursday passed its version of the capital budget for fiscal 2015.
The House voted 100-38 to pass Senate Bill 171. The bill heads across the hall to the Senate, where senators are expected to disagree with changes made in the House and send the bill to a conference committee to work out differences.
A number of projects in Anne Arundel County would receive different levels of funding in the Senate and House versions.
But during debate of the bill on the House floor, several Anne Arundel County Republicans attacked the bill by lamenting the state's history of spending borrowed money.
Del. Herb McMillan, R-Annapolis, said he didn't have a problem with the capital budget. He said he had a problem with the state spending on projects like it was ordering "the whole menu" at a restaurant.
"We're not against food, we're against overeating," McMillan said.
Del. Ron George, R-Arnold, accused lawmakers voting for the capital budget of attempting to create jobs using borrowed money.
"We are not business friendly, and we're trying to make up for it by taking out loans," George said.
Capital budgets in the House and Senate amount would have the state spending about $1.2 billion on capital projects in 2015.
The majority of the capital projects are paid for using general obligation bonds, which are authorized and issued to provide funds for state-owned capital improvements and various local capital projects, local jails, public schools, and community health centers.
The versions that have passed the Senate and House are different. Several projects in Anne Arundel would receive more money in one budget, and less in the other.
After the Senate passed a capital budget without two $700,000 grants for athletic facility improvements at Annapolis and South River high schools, the House has passed a capital budget with $3.5 million for the two high schools. The House's capital budget would send a $2.25 million grant to Annapolis High and a $1.25 million grant to South River for turf field projects at the schools.
Funding levels for Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in Annapolis and the National Cryptologic Museum at Fort George G. Meade are also uncertain.
A conference committee is expected to be assigned by Friday and must work out the differences in the Senate and House versions by the final day of the 90-day General Assembly session on April 7.
