Apr 26

Apr 26 A Win For The County

Prince George’s County Secures $1.5 Billion During Maryland General Assembly

The 2019 session of the Maryland General Assembly came to an end with Prince George’s County securing much needed funding totaling $1.5 billion in state aid. Education, which is a top priority in the Alsobrooks administration came away with two major victories. Listed below are the programs that will share in this financial funding.

- Legislation establishing the Prince George’s County Public-Private Partnership Fund. A first step towards addressing the $8.5 billion backlog for school construction and renovation projects. This legislation makes Prince George’s County the first jurisdiction in the state to have this type of structure in place to build schools. When all commitments are in place, the legislation will allow for 18 schools to be built over a 7 year period.

- Passage of the Blueprint For Maryland’s Future anticipates receiving $53 million in Kirwan funding which will help the county’s school system work to increase teacher’s pay and increase the number of Pre-K opportunities for children as the county works towards universal Pre-K.

- New legislation was passed that targets the illegal dumping of bulky items plaguing the communities. It defines the type of items and establishes a new penalty for individuals convicted of violating the new law.

- A partnership with the state that will help remove litter from the roadways and keep the county litter free.

- Legislation that secured additional speed cameras along Route 210.

- Youth sports legislation passed, establishing a Youth Sports Division within Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning.

- National Capital Strategic Economic Development Program (NED) funding, in the amount of $7 million per year for the next five years, addresses vacant homes, the possible idea of creating a land bank to buy back these properties, as well as invest in other economic development related projects.

- The return of $9.3 million in school construction funding that the county had forward-funded the state but hadn’t been repaid for.

- $38 million to help construct the interchange on Arena Drive as downtown Largo continues its growth.

- $3 million per year for the next two years that will allow 12 turf athletic fields to be built at county schools.

- Funding for a feasibility study to build an amphitheater in the county for great outdoor concerts and events. $250,000 was received for the study this year and $14.5 million in pre-authorization construction funds for next year.

Said County Executive Alsobrooks,

“I am very proud of the work that Team Prince George’s accomplished over the last three months. On the opening day of session, I stood with the members of our state delegation, the County Council and the leadership of our school system and we told everyone that we were going to work together to bring home the needed resources for our citizens, and we succeeded in a big way…As you can see, it was a very successful session for Prince George’s County, and while it certainly ended on a somber note as we all mourn the loss of a great leader, public servant, mentor and friend in Speaker [Michael] Busch, we are proud of what we accomplished and we believe it is a sign of things to come as we continue to work together on behalf of our citizens.”