Anne Arundel County would receive $56.7 million in construction funding under Gov. Martin O'Malley's fiscal year 2015 capital budget.
O'Malley proposed a $39 billion budget Wednesday to kick off his last year as governor during the General Assembly. The 2015 budget would close an estimated $584 million revenue shortfall without tax or fee increases and put the state on track to closing its structural deficit by fiscal 2017.
Much of the capital funding proposed for Anne Arundel County is for projects already on the books. More than $15 million is allocated for the construction of the 65,982-square-foot Dorsey Run Correctional Facility in Jessup. The money, as well as an additional $20 million from the federal government, would be used for the construction of the minimum security prison's second 560-bed compound.
Other big-ticket items for Anne Arundel County include $7.5 million in construction funding for Meade High School and $6.7 million for the construction of a new Water Treatment Plant in Annapolis.
The state previously authorized $23.3 million for Annapolis' new water treatment plant, the current plant was built in 1929. The latest $6.7 million stems from the Maryland Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund.
Certain items in the governor's Capital Budget - like school construction dollars - are determined on a formulaic process. Other items, such as miscellaneous bond items, are often inserted into the budget at the request of legislators.
The Patapsco Sewershed - which covers Northern Anne Arundel County - would receive about $5.8 million for sewer improvements under O'Malley's proposed budget. The National Cryptological Museum and the YMCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County would also receive $1 million each in funding.
Funding for the YMCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County would be used for the design and construction of a new domestic violence shelter, while the National Cryptological Museum in Annapolis Junction wants to build a new museum honoring cyber security near Fort George G. Meade.
Smaller items in the capital budget include $500,000 in proposed construction funding for Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts and $700,000 for improvements to the athletic fields at Annapolis High School. Cynthia Busch, wife of Speaker Mike Busch, serves on the Board of Directors for Maryland Hall.
The National Sailing Hall of Fame in Annapolis would receive $250,000 under the proposed Capital Budget. Plans for a $30 million sailing museum near Ego Alley have stalled in recent years due to fundraising issues.
The City of Annapolis would receive $50,000 for improvements to the City Dock bulkhead under the proposed budget. The budget also included $250,000 for the new library proposed for Annapolis.
The governor's budget was released in two forms - operating and capital funding. The operating budget contains the cost of day-to-day operations Maryland, while the capital budget funds construction projects in the state.
O'Malley's proposed budget must be approved by the state Senate and the House of Delegates. Items proposed in the budget are reviewed individually by each chamber.
