Anne Arundel County may have to repay Maryland more than $500,000 after abruptly closing the public boat ramp at Discovery Village .

The ramp was closed in July after County Council members questioned the county's lease with the property owner.

Council member Shanon Ledbetter said the lease contained escalating rent and allowed the owner to make repairs and bill the county, potentially spending taxpayer money without a public appropriations process. She said lease terms should be fair to taxpayers and allow for oversight and accountability.

The county had covered most of the $1.6 million construction cost and signed a lease with the waterfront facility's private owner, agreeing to pay about $156,000 a year as long as the council approved funding.

About a month later, the county

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