Capitol projects plan set for forum

Public can comment on plans March 23

Friday, March 12, 2010

Several projects raised questions during a review of the six-year capital improvements plan at the earlier this month during a Calvert County Board of County Commissioners meeting, but no changes were made to the recommendations of county staff.

The $265-million budget covers all capital improvement projects in the county from 2011 through 2016. Due to concerns over future budgetary restraints, several changes were made between the previously adopted six-year plan and the one currently proposed, culminating in $26 million worth of projects being delayed beyond 2016. More than $153 million in project costs were deferred from last year's six-year plan, $77 million of which was included this time around.

"We've taken a diligent approach in getting the budget to this point and have received concurrence from each [county] department," Capital Projects Coordinator Sharon Strand said.

Education projects made up 43 percent of the total six-year budget, the biggest chunks coming in $56 million for the new Calvert High School building and $40 million for significant renovations and additions to Northern High School. Construction of the new high school is scheduled to be completed in 2013 and renovations to Northern High are set to begin in 2015 and continue into 2016. The remainder of the six-year education budget totals more than $17 million.

Public facilities projects represent 26 percent of the total, including more than $23 million for renovations to the Calvert County Detention Center in Barstow, $22 million for a new county services plaza and $12 million for a second building at the College of Southern Maryland Prince Frederick campus, which was moved up a year from 2012-2013 to 2011-2012 and included $6.8 million in savings. Other significant public facilities expenditures include $5.5 million over 2015 and 2016 for a new Southern Branch Library and $935,000 from 2014 to 2016 for renovations to the Southern Community Center. Commissioner Linda Kelley (R) objected to the plaza, a newly proposed expense.

"I'm just not real sure that the time is right to do that given the state of things in the economy. There are so many other demands on our dollars that I think maybe that one is not one that ranks right up at the top there," Kelley said. "I don't think we can afford this."

Commissioner Jerry Clark (R) also raised concerns over the county's projected debt obligation in 2016 — 9.39 percent of general fund revenue, just shy of the county-imposed limit of 9.5 percent.

"I realize at some point in time we're going to need a new services plaza but it really bothers me to see that debt affordability model get up as high as it is in 2016," Clark said. "I know this is just a projection and it seems like 2016 is a long ways out but actually, in the scope of things, it's not that far out."

While all five commissioners agreed that raising the 9.5 percent threshold would not be an option, Kelley remained skeptical.

"Excuse me, I sat on a board where that was the answer once," she said.

"Not on this board," Commissioners' President Wilson Parran (D) said.

Kelley also questioned whether a $2 million substance abuse treatment facility scheduled for construction next year was needed. The current substance abuse facility is being converted into a work release building that will include 60 beds for inmates and partially relieve overcrowding at the jail.

"I have always questioned whether that substance abuse facility was going to be needed in the first place and hoped that we would be able to save some money by not building that building," Kelley said. "…I think it is too early to tell that right now. I've got 2 million reasons why I'm concerned about it."

Commissioner Susan Shaw (R) went to bat for the facility, $1.15 million of which will be paid for by a grant from the states Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, stating that it was needed and would only be more expensive in the future if delayed.

Public works and public safety projects comprise 11 and 10 percent of the plan, respectively. More than $28 million in transportation or road-related projects are budgeted for the next six years, including $5 million for the widening of Dowell Road and $5.3 million and $6.3 million, respectively, for improvements to Williams Road in Prince Frederick and the Prince Frederick Loop road.

More than $13 million is budgeted for utilities projects, including $4.7 million for upgrades to the Prince Frederick Wastewater Treatment Plant and more than $2 million for a reconstruction of the Mt. Hope Convenience Center, a recycling station in Sunderland.

One project noticeably missing from the public works plan were safety improvements to Skinners Turn Road in Owings, a narrow, winding road that the commissioners thought needed to be funded. Director of Public Works Terry Carlson said it was pushed out beyond 2016 because other projects took precedence, notably the Williams Road improvements, which are needed to accommodate current and expected traffic increases from Barstow Elementary School, the second CSM building and College Station subdivision.

"There's a lot of heavy traffic on that very narrow road with no shoulders at all and if there's any way to move those numbers around to make that happen soon I think that'd probably be a very desirable thing," Kelley said regarding Skinners Turn Road.

While more than $26 million is dedicated to public safety projects, only $905,000 is to fire department repairs.

The remaining costs include more than $18 million for an expansion of the county's 800 MHz radio systems and more than $9 million in apparatus replacements and repairs.

About 56 percent of the six-year budget will be financed using bonds, while 32 percent will come from state funding. County funds will only directly pay for 8 percent of the $265 million.

No changes were made to the recommended plan and a public hearing is scheduled for March 23.

Following review, another May 18 public hearing is tentatively scheduled for the commissioners to review the plan's final version.

jnewman@somdnews.com