The Calvert County Commissioners voted to approve a resolution indicating intent to reimburse the county for expenditures on 12 specific capital projects to be funded with the use of $9.2 million in general obligation bonds. The voted taken at the commissioners’ Tuesday, July 17 meeting was not unanimous. Commissioner Evan K. Slaughenhoupt Jr. [R], who previously voted against the adoption of the county’s fiscal year (FY) 2013 operating budget, opted to vote opposed to the resolution to forward fund the capital projects.
Slaughenhoupt noted that he has been lobbying unsuccessfully for reforms in the strategy the county government uses to draft its operating budget. “I believe we do not have a proper prioritization,” said Slaughenhoupt. He also stated that current “economic conditions” and a need to address urgent capital priorities recommended by investigators of the large fire on Soper Road in Huntingtown were not factored into the FY 2013 capital projects list. The fire occurred in early 2011 and resulted in serious injuries to several local firefighters.
“This is a motion to forward fund, this is not a motion to redo the budget,” said Commissioner Susan Shaw [R].
Commissioners President Gerald W. “Jerry” Clark [R] pointed out that the forward funding resolution was needed to comply with U.S. Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) mandates regarding the issuance of general obligation bonds.
“This is just an exercise to meet IRS requirements,” said Clark.
“Then I won’t participate in that exercise,” Slaughenhoupt replied.
The projects list includes $3.2 million for design, construction and equipment for Calvert High School, construction at Calvert Marine Museum ($750,000), the Dowell Road widening project ($500,000), land acquisition and site work for the Prince Frederick Loop Road ($940,000) and irrigation at the Chesapeake Hills Golf Course ($643,000).
The vote to forward fund the project was 4-to-1.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
