Pool funding decision under fire

The Department of Natural Resources is under renewed scrutiny for spending Program Open Space money on indoor recreation projects such as the county's new aquatics center in Glen Burnie.

In an audit released last week, the independent state Office of Legislative Audits found the practice violates the intent of Program Open Space.

The program, which is funded by a tax that's paid when property is sold, is supposed to pay for "outdoor public recreation and open space use and to develop the land for needed outdoor recreation facilities," the auditors wrote.

The audit singled out the North County Aquatics...