Proposed County Budget Has More than $4 Million for Historic District

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman unveiled a $442.4 million capital budget on Monday that would dedicate more than $14 million for stormwater projects across the county, including about $1.3 million in Ellicott City’s Historic District.

The new stormwater management fee will fund some of the stormwater projects.

In addition, $3 million of the proposed budget would be used in the Historic District “to provide a variety of repairs to public infrastructure and other community improvements and needs,” including, potentially, land acquisition. 

In January, Director of Special Projects Steve Lafferty said that the “community improvements” would include sidewalk and curb repairs.

The fiscal year 2014 capital budget proposal also allocates about $50 million for agricultural land preservation in the county, according to a statement released by the administration. 

New debt taken on to pay for the improvements would total $118.4 million in General Obligation bond funding, according to figures provided by the County Executive's office.

County-wide spending was broken down into the following categories:

• Environmental protection - $64.5 million
• Education - $104.7 million
• Recreation and Parks - $23 million
• Public safety - $11.6 million
• Roads, sidewalks and traffic - $24.5 million
• Water and sewer projects - $156.7 million

Other large projects in the county that are proposed in the budget:

• $1.8 to convert the former Miller Branch Library into administrative offices
• $6.9 million for Blandair Park phase two
• $17.8 million for a new science and engineering building at Howard Community College

Related:

- Ulman Proposes $3 Million in Upgrades to Ellicott City Historic District

- Historic District gets Funds for Facades

- Howard County Council Approves Stormwater Management Fee