Lawmakers Shave More From Funds Designated for Intercounty Connector
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The Maryland Senate Budget and Taxation Committee pared an additional $51 million from the budget proposal of Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) and sought to rein in the activities of Comptroller Peter Franchot (D).
The largest cut would force the Department of Transportation to tweak an already-complicated financing plan for the intercounty connector, the 18-mile toll road being built in Montgomery and Prince George's counties.
The budget panel deleted $32 million in general funds for the project next year, suggesting two other options to maintain the necessary cash flow for the $2.4 billion project: issuing a special three-year bond or using untapped cash from another transportation fund.
Supporters of the cut, including Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr. (D-Montgomery), an intercounty connector supporter, said it would in no way jeopardize the project. Montgomery's two other senators on the panel voted against the proposal.
Sen. Rona E. Kramer (D-Montgomery) argued that the connector financing plan is complex enough already. "This is not the time to be making it more difficult," said Kramer, who was joined in voting against the cut by Sen. Nancy J. King (D-Montgomery). Kramer argued that altering the plan could affect interest rates that the state receives on bonds issued to finance the road, a notion disputed by legislative analysts.
Cash from the state's $15.2 billion general fund, which pays for most government operations, accounts for a small portion of the connector financing plan. But lawmakers are seeking to trim that fund this week in anticipation of a decrease in projected revenue for next year. Budget subcommittees trimmed more than $100 million in recent days.
The full panel also adopted language yesterday that would restrict Franchot from spending funds on anything but the office's constitutional responsibilities. Senators said the provision was a symbolic attempt to rein in some of Franchot's activities, such as holding a summit on life sciences.
Another provision adopted by the panel would withhold $500,000 from Franchot's office until he issues regulations needed to collect the state's computer services tax, which takes effect in July. Franchot has been an outspoken opponent of the tax, which his office is assigned to collect.
Franchot spokesman Joseph Shapiro said the office "can live with the language, absolutely."
-- John Wagner
