Funding New School Construction Projects
Funding New School Construction Projects
Prince George’s shoppers may soon be asked to help foot the bill to reduce the school system’s $2 billion school maintenance backlog.
“If Prince George’s County is going to excel, if we are going to give our students a 21st century education in safe, modern buildings, then we need to get our schools in shape,” said General Assembly Del. Jay Walker (D-Dist. 26) of Fort Washington, co-sponsor of the bill.
Prince George’s 413-15, sponsored by Walker and Del. Alonzo Washington (D-Dist. 22) of Hyattsville, would allow the county to create a 1 percent sales tax, with the funds to go to school renovation and construction.
The bill would require approval from the County Council and referendum approval by voters in the 2016 November General Election.
Walker said the bill, if approved, would generate at least $60 million yearly in revenue for major renovation and construction projects.
The sales tax in Prince George’s County and other counties in Maryland is currently 6 percent.
“I’ve been to every school in my district, and I’ve seen there’s a great need for new schools, and school renovations,” Washington said. “This is an investment we need to make, because our students deserve better facilities than they currently have.”
Walker stressed that funds from the tax would only go to school construction and major renovations.
“It’s not going to be used for teacher salaries or special programs. Only for school construction and renovation,” Walker said.
The bill stipulates that the money would be collected by the county, which must provide a yearly report to the General Assembly on the amount collected and how it was spent.
Riverdale Park Mayor Vernon Archer said the schools in his town, Riverdale Elementary and William Wirt Middle School, are in need of substantial improvements or replacement, like many other schools in the county.
A feasibility study was recently completed on Wirt, recommending the school be replaced, but no funding has yet been assigned to the project.
“This bill is trying to create the financial mechanism to address these issues so that the line is not so long that communities are trying to push each other out of the way,” Archer said.
M.H. “Jim” Estepp, president of the Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable, said the bill could have a chilling impact on the county’s attempts to attract additional business.
“It [the bill] imposes additional regulations on businesses, additional requirements,” Estepp said. “It sends a message that we’re not business friendly, and I don’t think that’s the message we want to be sending right now.”
Estepp said the county already has the highest stormwater management tax and minimum wage in the state.
“To add another 1 percent to the tax rate and to do it in just Prince George’s County is not what we need right now,” Estepp said.
Estepp said that while the county does have pressing school construction needs, he didn’t think a new tax was the best way to meet those needs.
Walker said the county needs to find its own funding source for new school construction and renovation to deal with the $2 billion backlog.
“It’s telling the people of Prince George’s County to put their money where their mouth is,” Walker said. “If you want better schools, you’re going to have to pay for it.”
Source: The Gazette
Author: Jamie Anfenson-Comeau
Date: December 30, 2014