On Thursday, August 31, the Hogan Administration recommended $68 million in cuts to the current state budget – including a complete elimination of the state’s Survey & Research preservation grants.
Saved! On Wednesday, September 6, Preservation Maryland submitted written testimony and attended the Board of Public Works meeting where the proposed cut to the non-capital grant program was removed. Thank you everyone who supported our advocacy work.
The Survey & Research grants which are also known as Non-Capital grants provide funding for research, survey, documentation, conservation, planning and educational activities involving historic, architectural, archaeological or cultural resources – the tangible remains of Maryland’s past.
The program has received no funding since fiscal year 2009 until advocacy led by Preservation Maryland in 2017 resulted in its return to the state budget that was adopted this past January. Governor Hogan’s request to the Maryland Board of Public Works would eliminate all funding for this critical program. The program’s $200,000 budget represents approximately .0004% of the entire Maryland state budget.
The cuts come after dozens of organizations and municipalities applied for funding earlier this month. Requests for funding were due on August 14 – meaning these organizations and municipalities collectively spent hundreds of hours preparing applications for important projects that will never even be considered.
Read Preservation Maryland’s Letter to Governor Hogan
The proposed cuts will not go into effect until approved by the Board of Public Works at their September 6th meeting. The Board is comprised of the Governor, State Comptroller and State Treasurer. Preservationists wishing to voice their concerns to the Board can take action by clicking the link below [link removed].