Jan 6, 2009 10:49 am US/Eastern
Education Tops Wish List For Baltimore County Exec
TOWSON, Md. (AP) ―
Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith's self-described modest legislative wish list for 2009 puts education at the top.
At his annual legislative rollout on Monday, Smith also asked for speed cameras and the transfer of some liquor licenses to Towson.
Smith wants Gov. Martin O'Malley to maintain his $325 million commitment to school construction -- of which Smith said 25 percent should go to Baltimore County schools.
"Our country's current economic crisis makes the education of our future work force more important than ever," Smith said. "For the past six years, education has been Baltimore County's No. 1 priority in Annapolis, and the same is true again this year."
Improvements at Parkville High School, Catonsville High School and Milford Mill Academy would use $20.4 million in requested money, Smith said.
The county also wants $18.9 million from Maryland to build a new George Washington Carver Center for the Arts and Technology, and $7 million for a new elementary school. Both are in Towson.
The county's General Assembly delegation will sponsor legislation to shift 10 liquor licenses from the east side to the Towson commercial revitalization district, Smith said.
The delegation is also expected to ask for a $3 million bond bill to acquire and improve Robert E. Lee Park from Baltimore City.
After unsuccessful efforts last year, several crime initiatives, including legislation enabling speed cameras, are back on Smith's list.
Baltimore County Police Chief Jim Johnson said legislation mandating that scrap metal dealers report daily transactions electronically to local police departments is especially important.
"We've seen a huge increase in Baltimore County in copper theft from catalytic converters," Johnson said. "Often times the destruction left behind costs more than the theft itself."
Smith also wants legislation authorizing the seizure of proceeds from identity theft, requiring pawnbrokers to report transactions electronically, and enabling Baltimore County to obtain fingerprint background checks from prospective employees.
The legislative session begins Jan. 14.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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