The Maryland Board of Public Works, led by Comptroller Brooke Lierman, Governor Wes Moore, and Treasurer Dereck Davis, approved over $1.23 billion for 70 statewide initiatives, including funding for Camden Yards improvements, cleaner transit buses, and expanded child care support.
Per the news release: “Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman joined Governor Wes Moore and Treasurer Dereck Davis Wednesday during the first Board of Public Works meeting of 2025 to approve more than $1.23 billion for 70 initiatives and projects throughout Maryland.
The Board of Public Works approved a request from the Maryland Stadium Authority to adopt the issuance of $135,000,000 in Taxable Revenue Bonds to finance capital improvements, for Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Last year, the Board of Public Works voted to approve a lease extension agreement for the Baltimore Orioles to remain at Camden Yards for the next 30 years. The extension allows the Maryland Stadium Authority to issue bonds to support capital improvements to the stadium.
The Board of Public Works approved a $387 million award from the Maryland Transit Administration to purchase more than 300 heavy-duty buses for the Locally Operated Transit Systems, which provide both fixed-route and demand-response services for Marylanders across the state.
“People rely on this to get to grocery stores, to get to their kids, to go to doctors’ appointments and whatnot. They are an important part of the infrastructure,” Comptroller Lierman said. “It allows for hybrid, clean diesel, and other purchases which will continue to decrease emissions as they replace older vehicles. So, it is nice to see the LOTS buses move to be greener as well.”
The Department of Education submitted a proposal to extend a contract with Deloitte Consulting LLP to administer the Child Care Scholarship Program, which helps working families afford child care. Since 2022, 16,000 children have been added to the program. The extension will help ensure the continuity and administration of the program before a request to exercise the second and final one-year renewal option comes to the board later this month.
Comptroller Lierman applauded Governor Moore and his administration’s record $605 million for ongoing investments in the program, noting that child care is an economic issue. The Office of the Comptroller published its Child Care and the Economy brief in December 2024.
“Access to affordable, accessible, quality childcare enables parents who want to work out of the home, to stay in the workforce, and provide jobs for professionals working with our children. Unfortunately, it is also a large and necessary expense for Marylanders,” Comptroller Lierman said. “It is more expensive in Maryland, with tuition for center-based infant care accounting for 13% of a salary for a married couple and 40% of income for a single-income family. I’m happy to make this analysis available to boost participation and develop solutions to support Marylanders moving forward.”
In all, the BPW approved 70 items, representing a total State expenditure of $1,236,262,363.07. A comprehensive list of items approved:
- Approved grant agreements for nine recipients for 10 projects located in six counties and Baltimore City with a total value of $25,651,000.
- Seven items awarding $176,016,154.20 to prime certified small business primes
- Six items awarding $175,561,339 to certified minority business enterprise primes
- Two items awarding $682,352.70 to Employment Works Program providers
- 11 items awarded with established participation goals for minority business enterprises
- Three items awarded with established participation goals for veteran-owned small business enterprises
The next meeting of the Board of Public Works is January 29, 2025.”