The county commissioners asked state legislators yesterday for the authority to hold developers responsible for the costs of finishing roads left half-built, and they joined Sykesville officials in making a pitch to keep money in the state budget for a key economic development project.

The request to establish "roads districts" to ensure developers don't leave roads unfinished was among several delivered by the commissioners yesterday to Carroll's General Assembly delegation. The commissioners also asked the legislators to ensure that $2.7 million remains available to better connect Route 32 with Sykesville's Warfield Complex.

The elected officials stressed the need to maintain momentum on plans to restore buildings at Springfield Hospital Center into a business and academic center because the project promises to bring more than 1,000 jobs to the county. The intersection is crucial to the project, officials said.

Gov.-elect Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. "has asked us to make a priority list for our county and this will be on it," said Susan Krebs, recently elected delegate representing a new legislative district in South Carroll.

Although the state is facing a $1.7 billion budget deficit, the transportation fund is "in good shape," said Del. Nancy R. Stocksdale, who serves on the appropriations committee.

The town's engineer plans to have the design work on the Sykesville road project finished before the next fiscal year begins July 1. Construction would take about 18 months.

"The further along you are with your plans, the better off you are," said Howard County Sen. Robert H. Kittleman, whose district includes South Carroll. "What is not ready is usually what gets cut."

The commissioner made the pitch during the county's meeting with the delegation on legislative issues. The proposal for road districts would allow the county to seek reimbursement from developers or property owners for the cost of completing connector roads in subdivisions. Connector roads are often built in sections as new homes need them, and many throughout the county remain incomplete.

"We are not going to continue to allow development to build a road halfway," said Commissioner Dean L. Minnich. "This way we put everything up front and build these connector roads now."

Building the roads earlier would better serve the communities, and would allow easier access for police officers, firefighters and paramedics, as well as for school buses, said Steven D. Powell, the commissioners' chief of staff.

But Sen. Larry E. Haines, leader of Carroll's all-Republican delegation, says he is concerned that the proposal could lead to financial burdens for homeowners.

In addition, the commissioners asked for more flexibility in providing retirement plans to employees and an increase in the budget for bonuses paid to longtime volunteer firefighters. The board also wants to raise the limit on the value of surplus property that the county donates to charity from $100 to at least $250.

"Especially when it comes to computers, $100 is too restrictive," said Kimberly A. Millender, county attorney.

The county hopes to retrieve payment for court-ordered work on neighborhood eyesores, such as a junkyard or a faltering home-improvement project, by assessing the costs on the property owner's tax bill. This proposal also needs legislative approval.

"We take the violator to court and are often ordered to literally do the cleanup," Millender said. "We can put a lien on the property to get the costs back, but we stand in line with other creditors."

Finally, the commissioners said their requested bond authorization would include $7 million for loans to volunteer fire companies, but they have not determined a total for the several capital projects they plan for next year.

The county commissioners and the delegation will each schedule public hearings on the proposals next month.