County to Air Condition Five Additional Schools: Board of Public Works approves funding; Kamenetz to submit supplemental budget request to County Council

Towson, MD - County Executive Kevin Kamenetz announced today his intent to submit a $17.2 million supplemental appropriation to the County Council to install air conditioning at five Baltimore County schools. This request to the Council represents the County's share of the $29.2 million cost of air conditioning these schools. The County will fund this supplement with the bond premium money it earned from its November 29, 2012 bond sale. The premium is the amount paid to the seller of bonds (in this case Baltimore County) if the bonds are sold with a coupon rate higher than what would have been the actual market rate. Today, the Maryland Board of Public Works voted to allocate $11.7 million in additional funding to Baltimore County schools for this initiative made possible by the Governor's FY2014 Capital Improvement Program: Air Conditioning Initiative. "I truly appreciate the support of Governor O'Malley and State Treasurer Nancy Kopp for supporting this request that will air condition five additional Baltimore County schools," Kamenetz said. "I also need to thank the County's senators and delegates who have been working hand-in-hand with me to secure these funds." County Executive Kamenetz has made the air conditioning of County schools a focus since he was elected in 2012. In his budget message to the County Council in April 2013 he stated, "We also anticipate future air conditioning projects to be announced upon completion of the State IAC review process based on an allocation of Governor O'Malley's dedicated air conditioning fund." This funding fulfills the anticipated project funding. "When I first took office, more than half of our schools, 52% to be exact, still did not have air conditioning," said Kamenetz. "With this welcome infusion of State funds and an additional $17.2 million of County funds, our administration has funded the installation of air conditioning in 43 schools since January 2011. Now nearly 30,000 students study in comfort even on the warmest June or August days." This new funding will further reduce the percentage of County schools without air conditioning to 23%. This funding is part of a $25 million state supplemental budget allocation in Governor O'Malley's Air Conditioning Initiative. Baltimore County's share is $11.7 million, which will fund the installation of air conditioning for 3,700 students who attend the following five schools:

• Featherbed Lane Elementary
• Hawthorne Elementary
• Parkville Middle School
• Scotts Branch Elementary
• Wellwood International Elementary

"We are making steady progress in addressing our infrastructure needs in Baltimore County Public Schools." said BCPS Superintendent of Schools S. Dallas Dance. "This is another great example of the State and the County government supporting us to provide the best learning environments possible for our students and staff. We know there is more work to be done; therefore, we are extremely excited about our progress towards our 10-year capital plan." "I am very proud of the fact that the County has made such significant progress air conditioning schools over the past few years," said County Council Chair Tom Quirk. "With one of the oldest school stocks in the State, we have faced a daunting challenge, and we are making real progress. I appreciate the efforts of the Governor and County Executive for championing this effort."