Historic St. Mary’s City commission outlines FY25 cuts and audit implementation progress

Jacob Polikoff, the Department of Legislative Services budget analyst for Historic Saint Mary's City Commission, told the Education, Business and Administration Subcommittee that the commission’s fiscal 2025 allowance decreases by about $523,626 to $6.9 million and includes two proposed deficiency appropriations totaling about $358,000 for wireless network work and cost‑of‑living adjustments.

Polikoff reviewed exhibits showing that administrative functions account for the largest share of the commission’s FY25 allowance, described a small drop in visitation in FY23 (53,388 visitors, down 388 from the prior year) and outlined the commission’s ongoing response to a March 2023 performance audit that identified informal business operations and weaknesses in purchasing card and cash management. The analyst said the audit produced nine recommendations; the commission has completed several items, including hiring a chief operating officer and creating KPIs and written policies, but some recommendations — including actions related to the Broom Howard Inn — remain in progress.

“Historic St. Mary’s is committed to implementing all of the audit recommendations and has already completed several of them, including the hiring of a chief operating officer,” Polikoff said. He recommended committee narrative requesting an internally produced report on progress toward full implementation of all nine recommendations.

Dr. John (as named in the transcript) representing the commission thanked the committee, concurred with the analyst’s recommendations and described planning for Maryland’s 400th anniversary as a major opportunity that will require infrastructure and programmatic planning. He said the commission is evaluating reuse options for the Broom Howard Inn and has issued an RFP that received at least one submission under review.

The committee did not take formal action at the hearing but DLS recommended that the committee adopt narrative instructing the commission to report back on remaining audit recommendations so the budget committees can track progress.