As we reported last week, there are 10 county questions on the ballot. To read about the charter amendments, see the article in the October 8 issue. Below is information on what to expect from the five remaining questions, which are all “bond issue” questions, meaning they request authorization to borrow money. These questions will appear labeled F to J on the ballot.
F. $67,306,000 for Community College Facilities
The county is requesting to borrow money by issuing bonds of up to $67,306,000 to pay for the “design, construction, acquisition, improvement or repair of Community College Facilities.”
The seven projects associated with this funding are: Southern Region Campus; Lanham Hall/Dukes Student Center Parking Garage; College Improvements; Renovate Marlboro Hall; Dr. Charlene Mickens Dukes Student Center; Bladen Hall Renovation; and Chesapeake Hall Renovation and Addition.
G. $140,089,000 for Public Works and Transportation
The county seeks to borrow money by issuing bonds of up to $140,089,000 to pay for “roads, bridges, parking lots and maintenance facilities.”
The projects that fall under this funding are titled: Street Lights & Traffic Signals; Bridge Repair & Replacement; Curb & Road Rehabilitation; Bus Mass Transit/Metro Access; Street Tree Removal & Replacement; Bridge Replacement — Sunnyside Avenue; Bridge Replacement — Livingston Road; Bridge Replacement — Brandywine Road; Developer Contribution Projects; Bridge Replacement — Governor Bridge Road; Transit Oriented Development Infrastructure; Bridge Rehabilitation Federal Aid; Bridge Replacement — Chestnut Avenue; Emergency Repairs — Roadways & Bridges; Brandywine Road & Md. 223 Intersection; Town of Upper Marlboro; Planning & Site Acquisition; and Sidewalk Infill and Repair.
The bridge on Sunnyside Avenue was recently replaced but is among the list of projects to be funded by this bond issue put forth in the county council’s bill (CB-055-2026) for borrowing to finance capital projects for public works and transportation facilities this year. A closer look at this project in the county’s budget reveals that it is one of four public works and transportation projects the county reports as “significantly complete” that are still contained within the FY 2027-32 proposed capital improvement program and budget. The four are the bridge replacement at Sunnyside Avenue, Contee Road reconstruction, bridge replacement at Temple Hill Road and the Maryland Purple Line. Those “four projects are significantly complete but remain in the budget for closeout,” states the Public Works and Transportation Section of the FY 2027-2032 Proposed Capital Improvement Program and Budget document. Of the four, the county is only requesting to borrow money for the Sunnyside Avenue work. Its project listing (number 4.66.0027) within the FY 2027-2032 proposed budget reports its completion date as FY 2024 and its cost as $15,057,000. A representative from the county’s communication’s department told the News Review that money borrowed for projects is often split over multiple bonds, aligning with the schedule of work. This project is in the “close-out” phase, with money still due, they believed. The amount remaining that the county would like to borrow money for was estimated to be around $240,000, according to the communications department.
H. $117,848,000 for County Buildings
In this question the county asks to borrow money by issuing bonds of up to $117,848,000 to pay for “the design, construction, acquisition, improvement or repair of County Buildings.”
The projects listed in a county council bill associated with this funding are as follows: Prince George’s Homeless Shelter; Shepherd’s Cove Family Shelter; Regional Health and Human Services Center; County Building Renovations; Courthouse Renovations and Security Upgrades; County Administration Building Refresh; Health Facilities Renovations; Local Government Energy Modernization; and Warm Nights Homeless Shelter.
I. $33,656,000 for Library Facilities Bonds
This measure will allow the county to borrow money by issuing bonds of up to $33,656,000 to “build, expand, repair, or improve County library buildings and facilities. This includes acquiring and developing library sites, hiring architects and engineers and purchasing equipment needed to operate those facilities.”
The related bill by Prince George’s County Council lists six projects related to this funding with the following titles: Hillcrest Heights Branch Replacement; Langley Park Branch; Oxon Hill Library Branch Renovation; Hyattsville Branch Replacement; Library Branch Renovations; and Surratts-Clinton Branch Renovation.
J. $53,503,000 for Public Safety Facilities
This measure will allow the county to borrow money by issuing bonds in an amount of up to $53,503,000 to “finance the design, construction, acquisition, improvement, or repair of Public Safety Facilities including Fire Department Facilities.”
The related county council bill lists 12 projects this funding would be used for if approved. Their titles are: Special Operations Division Facility; District Six Police Station; Forensics Lab Renovations; National Harbor Public Safety Building; Police Station Renovations; Fire Station Renovations; Fire Station Roof Renovations; Public Safety Infrastructure Upgrades; Water Storage Tanks; Detention Center Housing Renovations; Central Control/Administrative Wing Expansion; and Community Corrections Complex.
Voter approval is required for public bonds in Prince George’s County. They usually pass by a significant margin, with over 80 percent voting in favor of every bond issue in the last two elections, and public works and transportation bonds receiving over 89 percent support in both 2022 and 2024. The bonds for county buildings have received the least support in recent years but still passed in 2022 and 2024 by over 80 percent.