Gov. Larry Hogan on Wednesday welcomed Baltimore County's decision to accelerate plans to install air conditioning in all of its public schools, but refused to back off the Board of Public Works' decision to withhold school construction money until he sees a written plan.
The Republican governor and Democratic Comptroller Peter Franchot took full credit for the county's decision to finish installing central air at all elementary and middle schools by 2017 and high schools by 2018 rather than waiting until 2021 to complete the job.
"It's an encouraging sign that they finally seem to be getting the message," Hogan said.
At its last meeting two weeks ago, the board voted 2-1 to withhold $10 million in state school construction aid from the county and $5 million from Baltimore city unless both install portable window air conditioning units by the start of school this year. Hogan and Franchot approved the action over the objections of Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp, a Democrat elected by the General Assembly.
Hogan said he is pleased that after what he called years of "excuses and procrastination," Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz announced the new timeline plan last week. But the governor said he needs to see more than a press release before the state releases the school construction funds.
"We look forward to seeing the details of Baltimore County's new plan," Hogan said.
The governor said his administration has also heard from the new chief executive of Baltimore city schools, Sonja Santelises, about that system's withheld money. He said he looks forward to meeting with her to discuss the city's plans to provide air conditioning in its schools.
Baltimore County and the city are the only large jurisdictions in the state that have not air-conditioned all of their public schools. While Franchot and Hogan have pushed window air-conditioners as a temporary fix, both systems have said the aging electrical systems in many of their schools will not support such an addition.
Franchot rejected that contention, referring to the political mantra of the late governor and comptroller William Donald Schaefer.
"In the words of my iconic predecessor, 'Do it now,'" he said.
Kopp said after the meeting that both jurisdictions have been making good-faith efforts to address the air conditioning issue. She said she stands by her description of Hogan's and Franchot's pronouncements as "political theater."
Kamemetz released a statement saying his admministration has built 15 new schools and 11 additions as part of a $1.3 billion program that is near completion. He said the county is now spending more than $166 million it later expects to recover from the state to complete the accelerated plan.
"We were never going to waste money on portable air conditioning units," he said. "That was simply political grandstanding and fiscally irresponsible."
County spokesman Don Mohler said the County Council will vote Thursday on a budget that includes $121 million of that advance funding. He said the council will vote on an additional $45 million to complete the work in July.
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