Small Businesses Could Benefit from O’Malley’s Increased Infrastructure and Construction Spending

O’Malley pitches $500M capital budget increase

Baltimore Business Journal by Jimmy DeButts, Associate Editor

Date: Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 11:01am EST

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley’s fiscal year 2013 spending plan includes a $500 million increase in the state’s capital budget that he said will support more than 37,000 jobs.

O’Malley released details of his 2013 budget Wednesday morning. It includes a $3.6 billion capital budget, up from the $3.1 billion the General Assembly passed for fiscal 2012, which ends June 30.

The state’s infrastructure and construction spending could result in an additional $1.4 billion in local government and private-sector spending that would support another 15,000 jobs, O’Malley said.

Among O’Malley’s construction and environmental protection allocations are:

• $373 million for new construction and renova­tion of public schools, bringing the six-year total to $2 billion;
• $351.4 million in the traditional school construction program, including $6.1 million for the Aging Schools Program;
• $5 million for capital improvements at the Maryland School for the Blind;
• $25 million for the Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund;
• $36.6 million to preserve approximately 8,100 acres through the Rural Legacy Program and state Open Space program;
• $28 million in capital projects to improve the health of the bay by upgrading storm water infrastructure;
• $23 million for State Park improvements green projects and upgrades; and,
• $8 million for oyster restoration.

The Maryland General Assembly is not bound by O’Malley’s recommendations. It can cut or shift funds around, but it cannot add to the budget.

The Maryland General Assembly is not bound by O’Malley’s recommendations. It can cut or shift funds around, but it cannot add to the budget.