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NEWS RELEASE

April 1, 2008

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Ulman Announces FY2009 Capital Budget Proposal

ELLICOTT CITY, MD -- Howard County Executive Ken Ulman today submitted his Fiscal Year 2009 Capital Budget proposal to Council Chairperson Courtney Watson. “The budget I am submitting balances the County’s needs and resources and maintains a strong commitment to the priorities which are critical to the continued success of our community – education, public safety, natural and community resources, and infrastructure maintenance,” said Ulman.

The 2009 proposed Capital Budget includes $80.47 million for school construction and renovation projects including Northfield and Elkridge Elementary School additions, systemic renovations at Clemens Crossing and Waterloo Elementary Schools and important infrastructure and technology maintenance programs. This budget proposal also includes the $27 million dollars the Board of Education requested to fund proposed renovations at Mt. Hebron High School: however that money has been reserved as a contingency project in the budget. Once the Board of Education and the community reach a final agreement on the best way to proceed with this project, the Administration will recommend to the County Council that the funds be transferred into the Mt. Hebron project.

This budget also reflects a commitment to funding Howard Community College and includes $16.9 million, an amount which includes $9 million in local bond funding, as well as State funding for the continuation of the renovation of the Student Services/Clark Building.

Other capital project funding reflected in the proposed budget includes: $14.3 million for the North Laurel Community Center; $4.4 million for North Laurel Park; $7.7 million to begin construction of the “new” Miller Library and Historical Center; $9.51 million for the continued development of the Robinson Nature Center; $2.9 million to begin construction of a new fire station at Route 100 and Meadowridge Road; and $3.2 million for fire and rescue vehicles.

In addition to these priority issues, the proposed budget includes funds to maintain and improve the County infrastructure. Road resurfacing projects total $9.9 million; road construction another $19.4 million ($14.7 million of which are funded by Road Excise Tax Bonds) and $4.5 million for bridge and storm drainage maintenance and upgrade.

Also included in this budget proposal is $6.7 million to fund technology improvements including: an enhanced local area network, improved software to support public safety efforts, and a scalable wide area network that will improve government efficiency and increase public access to on-line services.

The budget also revises the description of the capital project for the previously proposed government service campus and instead proposes that in lieu of constructing a new building, the County renovate the Howard, Dorsey and Gateway Buildings and purchase office space in Oakland Mills - an option that is expected to save the County close to $100 million. Since this project is expected to take several years to complete, this year’s budget focuses on the renovation of the Howard Building and the purchase in Oakland Mills and includes an additional $2.5 million in bonds $4.6 million in pay-as-you-go funding and $13.3 million from the anticipated sale of surplus County Government land.

The total proposed Capital Budget of $420.8 million includes $100 million in new General Obligation bonds. In addition, the budget includes funding of $25.7 million in water quality bonds and $137.9 million in Metropolitan District bonds, $20 million in pay-as-you-go funds and $13.5 million in Transfer Tax revenue. Based on an updated review of revenue and expenses related to the education surcharge bill, an additional $12.2 million was provided for education through the Education Excise Tax.

To view the entire proposed Fiscal Year 2009 Capital Budget go to the Howard County Government website at www.howardcountymd.gov.