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CUMBERLAND — A difficult task just became more challenging for Allegany County officials when it comes to how state Program Open Space funding is distributed.
Due to craft financial maneuvering in Annapolis, Commissioners Jim Stakem, Bob Hutcheson and Dale Lewis won’t be asking municipalities and community groups for their wish list in POS funding for fiscal 2011, which begins July 1. While Gov. Martin O’Malley has pledged to fully fund the program, which helps pay for park facilities and acquire land, this year’s money might not be accessible for another 18 to 24 months.
“Obviously, they won’t be sending a letter this year,” said John Braskey of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Braskey is DNR’s western regional land acquisition and planning coordinator. “I know it doesn’t help this fiscal year for the commissioners, but it will eventually become whole again.”
The current hole was created by O’Malley, who asked the Department of Budget and Management to take a little more than $103 million in funds not already earmarked from POS to balance the budget. The transaction left a balance of $32.7 million. The $103 million is to be repaid through general obligation bonds between now and June 30, 2014, “so local POS remains fully funded,” Braskey said. “However, access to those funds will be impacted.”
“In FY 2012, you will have new POS money,” Braskey said. “We just don’t know how much.”
No new requests will be accepted this year unless the commissioners, along with County Administrator David Eberly and Dave Dorsey, in Land Development Services, feel a project with funds that already have been allocated will not be completed by 2013.
Braskey said the only way new projects, which require state Board of Public Works approval, could be started is if funding already earmarked for another project is redirected to the new project. That leaves the choice in the hands of the commissioners. Hutcheson was asked if the three commissioners would entertain the idea of reconsidering the list of projects already approved.
“I doubt that very seriously,” said Hutcheson, noting he spoke only for himself and not for the board.
Any projects that have sent invoices through Jan. 20 will be paid — up to $81,000 for Allegany County, Braskey said. Allegany County will be able to request reimbursement from the state but the timing of when the projects are reimbursed will depend on when bond funding becomes available.
Lewis said it might serve the county well to not spend all its POS money, except it’s already happened.
“We’ve spent all our money,” he said.
Some projects, Lewis said, are not yet completed and are waiting on POS money from the county.
Hutcheson chose to focus on the positive news that the program would be fully funded, albeit delayed. He called O’Malley’s plan “encouraging.”
Lewis asked Dorsey for a list of current projects to see what, if any, changes should be made to how POS dollars are appropriated. The discussion is expected to resume Thursday during the commissioners’ public meeting at the County Office Complex.
Kevin Spradlin can be reached at kspradlin@times-news.com.
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