Howard County open space and a proposed state police building are among the projects getting the funding nod from the state.
“We are glad to have it,” Gary Arthur, director of Howard?s Department of Recreation and Parks, said of the annual allotment of state Program Open Space money.
More than $6.6 million was included for Howard?s Program Open Space in Gov. Martin O?Malley?s proposed fiscal year 2008 capital budget.
The amount was smaller than last year?s $9.3 million, Arthur said. The money comes from a state real estate transfer tax, exacted when a change of ownership occurs on real property ? and the slowing real estate market means less open space funding.
Half of the money will go toward acquiring parkland, Arthur said. When sensitive environmental areas go up for sale, the county can purchase and preserve them. Howard owns 8,300 acres, much of which was purchased with open space dollars, Arthur said.
The second half will go toward the county?s capital budget of 21 park projects, such as the Western Regional Park in Woodbine.
“We are very excited there was full funding last year, and this enables this big chunk to come this year,” said Jennifer Bevan-Dangel, spokeswoman for Environment, a nonprofit advocacy group.
The budget also includes $275,000 for a state police tactical-services building, which would be built within the state barracks compound in Jessup. The building is just a proposal at this point, said First Sgt. Russell Newell, spokesman for the Maryland State Police.
The building would gather under one roof several state police units, such as the SWAT and dive teams, as well as provide space for the Maryland State Fire Marshall?s bomb squad, he said.
