Hearing Set For Garrett Co. Public Facilities Bond Bill

Hearing Set For Garrett Co. Public Facilities Bond Bill

Feb. 21, 2008
A hearing has been scheduled in Annapolis for legislation that would allow the Garrett County commissioners to bond/finance up to $10 million for capital improvement projects. Introduced by Del. Wendell Beitzel, HB 1338 will be heard by the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 26, at 1 p.m.

The county commissioners and Financial Services director Wendy Yoder asked Beitzel and Sen. George Edwards during a December meeting to secure legislative authority in the General Assembly to enable the county to borrow funds.

"Over the next couple of fiscal years, we are facing a great amount of capital outlay, capital expenditures, particularly in 2009," Yoder told the local lawmakers.

The 2009 projects include a detention center, animal control center, public works facility, and a sewer system for the Keyser's Ridge Industrial Park.

The county can be classified as a "small issuer" under the Internal Revenue Service tax code, according to Yoder. This means the county will be eligible for the lowest possible interest rate, but the maximum amount that it can borrow is $10 million within a calendar year.

The county introduced a similar bond bill in 1998, allowing it to borrow up to $1.5 million for an economic development project.

The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee has not yet scheduled a hearing for the bond bill's companion, SB 754, introduced by Edwards.

Hearings for other bills introduced by Beitzel and Edwards include the following:

•HB 148 – "Tobacco Distribution to Minors" will be heard by the Economic Matters Committee on Monday, Feb. 25, at 2:30 p.m.

The proposed legislation would prohibit the distribution of certain tobacco products, cigarette rolling papers, and tobacco related coupons to minors in Garrett County. It would also outline new civil penalties for those who sell the products to minors.

•SB 223 – "Partnership Rental Housing Program Ownership of Rental Housing" will be heard by the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 1 p.m.

The bill would add certified housing develop-ment organizations to the list of entities that may own rental housing that is financed by the Partnership Rental Housing Program of the Department of Housing and Community Develop-ment. The purpose is to help provide housing for lower income residents.

•SB 260 – "Garrett Coun-ty Agriculture Districts" will be heard by the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee on Thursday, Feb. 28, at 1 p.m.

This proposed legislation would enable the Garrett County commissioners to establish agricultural districts, and it outlines rules, regulations, and procedures of establishing those districts.

Persons wishing to testify on any bill must sign the witness register by 12:40 p.m. Those with written testimony are asked to submit 20 copies to the pertinent committee staff by noon for distribution prior to the hearing.

Beitzel may be contacted in Annapolis at 1-800-494-7122, ext. 3435. Edwards may be reached at that same number, ext. 3565.