May 17, 2007

TO THE CITIZENS OF THE 32ND LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

THE BRAC BOOM IN OUR AREA

BRAC, the federal program designating the realignment and closure of military bases, will bring between 40,000 and 60,000 new jobs to Maryland. The greatest number of BRAC jobs in the state will be at Fort Meade. Anne Arundel County officials have estimated that over the next 5 to 7 years the direct and indirect jobs coming to Fort Meade could grow to as many as 24,000.

The overall annual economic boost from BRAC job expansion is pegged at $1 billion. When people move into an area, they need goods and services. Small business, especially in the Fort Meade area, stand to gain from BRAC.

The influx of new jobs at Fort Meade will demand highway and school improvements. Improving transportation routes to accommodate BRAC expansion at Fort Meade is estimated to cost $5 billion. This includes extending the Metro Green Line from Greenbelt to the BWI Parkway and overhauling Routes 175, 198 and 3. Approved state widening of Route 175 will cost $270 million. However, without obtaining any federal land for the project, the expansion of Route 175 is limited to 5.2 miles of highway, widened from 4 to 6 lanes in congested areas leading to Fort Meade and widening from 2 to 4 or 5 lanes near the future Odenton Town Center.

Where schools are concerned, federal impact aid is based on actual enrollment of children of federal workers who live on the military base. Maryland congressional and state representatives are pushing for changes in federal law to allow the immediate release of impact funds to ease the pressure of increased enrollment and enable schools to plan for student growth before that growth occurs. Currently, the federal government does not compensate state and local government sufficiently to cover the cost of the military presence. Maryland and Anne Arundel County governments receive $3.5 million in federal impact funds for the seven schools at Fort Meade, but spend $99 million to educate military dependent children who attend these schools.

Governor O'Malley has created a sub-cabinet, headed by Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, to coordinate planning for and manage BRAC through 2011. Accommodating BRAC growth must be a shared effort by federal, state and local government. Planned effectively, funded adequately and managed well, BRAC represents a real opportunity for economic growth in Maryland and Anne Arundel County.

Please do not hesitate to contact me on this or any other legislative issue of concern to you. As always, I encourage and welcome your input.

Sincerely,
James E. DeGrange, Sr.
State Senator, District 32
James Senate Office Building
11 Bladen Street, Room 101
Annapolis, Maryland 21401

www.co.anne-arundel.md.us/BRAC/index.cfm
www.defenselink.mil/brac/
www.hqda.army.mil/acsim/brac/braco.html
www.ftmeade.army.mil/bracinfo.html