ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — The chief executive officer of Baltimore’s public schools has told state lawmakers that he hopes to borrow $1.2 billion to overhaul the city’s public school buildings.

Andres Alonso spoke Tuesday to the Senate Budget and Taxation committee, telling members that the plan could save the city time and money by combining the repairs into a single constructive initiative. The plan would depend on state funding and a proposed increase in the city’s bottle tax to help pay for school renovations.

The bottle tax increase is part of a three-part plan that would allow the school system to float more than $300 million in bonds.

Alonso has already said that he wants to close more than a dozen schools to make the education system more efficient and to consolidate space.

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