Capital Projects

Capital Projects 2

Abstract

Governmental accounting standards and the city Charter require that operating revenues and expenses be clearly distinguished from revenues and expenses associated with capital projects, the design, development, construction and extraordinary repair and rehabilitation of physical plant and facilities

Capital Projects 3

City of Baltimore Capital Projects

The Baltimore City Charter specifies that the Planning commission shall submit a recommended Capital Budget and a Capital Improvement Program to the Board of Estimates. After receiving reports and recommendations from the Planning Commission’s proposals, the Board will adopt a budget and a program that will come the Director of Finance and the Board of Finance. The recommendations for the Capital Budget is founded on these tents:

• There shall be no appropriations for needs, which will not exist during the fiscal period.

• There shall be no appropriation unless the source of revenues is generated or earned during the fiscal period.

The City’s policy is to finance annually a portion of capital improvements General Fund or current revenues on a pay-as-you-go basis. This General Fund is appropriated at $9,600,000 for the Fiscal year of 2002. The General Fund Capital Budget appropriation by agency is as follows:

• Finance $5,200,000

• Housing and Community $875,000

Development

• Mayoralty $2,600,000

• Planning $200,000

• Public Works $250,000

• Recreation and Parks $475,000

Capital Projects 4

• Finance $337,357

(Enterprise Resource Planning Systems)

• Transportation $600,000

(Orion/Calvert Garage Project)

Capital projects are physicals improvements, which cost more that $5,000 and equipment and items of repair and maintenance, which cost more than $100,000. Physical improvements are not restricted to buildings but encompass a wide range of programs such as street and highway reconstruction, maintenance and improvement of the water and sewer systems, community development self-help programs and playgrounds development.

The Board of Estimates recommended a fiscal year 2003 capital budget totaling $329,599,000. Recommended projects fall into nine broad categories:

• Economic Development - $12,750,000

This category includes funding that directly supports key economic development initiatives including the West Side Downtown Redevelopment Project, targeted incentives for technology companies and Brownfield’s redevelopment and loan funds to retain and expand the job base, citywide.

• Housing and community Development - $49,482,000

This category includes funding to support the Main Street and Commercial Revitalization Programs, the Heritage Crossing HOPE VI redevelopment Project, the Healthy Neighborhoods Program, and citywide finding for acquisition, demolition, vacant lot treatments, hardship home repairs, homeowners incentives and neighborhood improvements.

• Education (School Renovation and Systematic Improvements) - 12,000,000

Capital Projects 5

The major school construction projects recommended for the budget year include renovations to the New Southern Technology High School, Lexington Terrance Elementary/Middle School and booker T. Washington Middle School. Funds for the planning of a new elementary/middle school in Southwest Baltimore are also included.

• Public Works Facilities - $163,668,000

This category includes funding for on-going improvements to the city’s storm drains, water supply and waste water systems, water pumping and waste water treatment facilities, public building improvements and erosion control projects.