County Presses $70m School Request at Beg-A-Thon
Spokesman says county would find matching money in the unlikely event the state fully funded Baltimore County's school construction and renovation projects.
Elected and school officials from Baltimore County will descend upon Annapolis Wednesday with others from around the state to press for money for school construction and renovation projects.
The county plans to press for nearly $70 million in total funding for school construction and renovation projects during the annual event often referred to as "beg-a-thon."
"We're going to send a really strong message that if we were to get $70 million that we're willing to step up and provide whatever local matching funds are necessary," said Don Mohler, County Executive Kevin Kamenetz's chief of staff and spokesman.
Baltimore County has the second oldest school stock in the state but receiving full funding for the annual list of projects is unlikely.
Gov. Martin O'Malley said earlier this month he hopes to provide more than $370 million into school construction funding in the next budget year.
Baltimore County has already been awarded $23 million for the budget year that begins July 1. Last year, the county received a total of $32 million.
Baltimore County is scheduled to make their pitch to the Board of Public Works at 2 p.m.
David Taylor
12:41 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
They are already talking about splitting up grades from the new West Towson Elementary and sending them to other schools, and that school is what, just 2 years old??? Promised expansions and fixes to Hampton are delayed, while overcrowding is getting worse, not better!
They have really dropped the ball on this - so many kids are sitting in trailers/etc now in Baltimore County, they can't meet current needs and they haven't even begun to address the projected overcrowding... how about they stop begging and start doing... follow the city's lead and go after what they really require to meet the needs of the citizens/voters/taxpayers of BoCo
LalainMaryland
4:34 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Oh yes. The city is a paragon.
Dkennylee
1:46 am on Thursday, January 26, 2012
This is a joke ..if they cant get money to put ac in schools what in the world do they need new schools...stop making them look like malls, stop using over paid contractors and and start with some ac
Buzz Beeler
8:27 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
The city wants a little more from a well that is dry. Many jurisdictions will go thirsty.