Howard County Council approves $9.1 million in school capital allocations after debate over Oakland Mills gym air conditioning

The Howard County Council voted unanimously at its second March legislative session to remove CR 63 20 25 from the table and approve the resolution reallocating state and school-construction funds to five school projects, including two new roofs, an elevator and two high school gym air-conditioning units.

The resolution uses $4,400,000 in previously unspent state Capital Improvement Program funding and roughly $9,100,000 in additional school-construction dollars to fully or partially fund five projects identified by the Board of Education, the resolution shows.

The council debate focused on whether one of the proposed gym air-conditioning installations — at Oakland Mills High School — should be funded now when, according to the materials cited during the meeting, the building is scheduled for a full renovation with an estimated completion date in 2031. Council Chair Walsh said approving a new gym unit for a building slated for renovation “is embarrassing” and questioned spending money to install equipment that could require removal and reinstallation years later: “We can reuse this new AC, we were told in the monthly meeting this past Monday. That's absurd.”

Councilmember Young defended the Board of Education's list and the staff work behind it, saying the choice of Oakland Mills reflected extensive community use of that gym and Mr. Brown’s analysis. “When you have gyms that are being that extensively used by camps and other community groups ... you need to be able to have air conditioning,” Young said.

Councilmember Rigby also supported the resolution, saying it fully funds projects already in the FY26 capital budget, and pointed to criteria staff described in a prior work session — including work orders, maintenance costs and funding availability — as the basis for the selections. “If you are unclear, please watch the work session,” Rigby said. “My vote tonight is yes.”

The projects identified in CR 63 20 25 include two new roofs (Howard High School and Forest Ridge), one new elevator at Appleton Elementary, and two high-school gym air-conditioning units at Reservoir High School and Oakland Mills High School, according to remarks in the meeting. The material discussed during the session also refers to additional partially funded systemic renovation and roofing projects around the county.

The council voted first to remove the resolution from the table and then to approve it. After the vote, Chair Walsh closed the legislative session.

Details recorded in the meeting transcript: the council discussed that $4,400,000 in state capital improvement program funding had been left unspent in the fall and that roughly $9,100,000 in additional school-construction funds were available for allocation. The transcript records contrasting views among council members about the Board of Education's project priorities and the timing of capital work.

No amendments to CR 63 20 25 were offered or adopted during the session; council members discussed the option of delaying final approval to request a different assembly of projects from the Board of Education but proceeded with the vote.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to remove CR 63 20 25 from the table — Passed (unanimous) - Motion to approve CR 63 20 25 — Passed (unanimous)

The council adjourned after the vote and ended the recording of the meeting.