Planning secretary defends reorganization, asks to retain Maryland 250 funds; details internships and site projects

Rebecca Flores, Maryland's planning secretary, told the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee the department is pursuing a rapid reorganization to strengthen planning leadership and technical capacity and to address hiring and retention challenges. "This past year... was really about assessing what we had, what was working, what wasn't, where we needed to do some realignment," Flores said in her opening remarks.

DLS analyst Carrie Cook told senators the Department of Planning's proposed FY25 budget decreases by about $2.1 million (6.9%) to $28.8 million, with personnel increases offset by reductions in one-time grants. Cook asked the department to clarify use of roughly $457,000 remaining in Maryland 250 commission funds and recommended deleting an FY25 $250,000 appropriation given available balances unless a clear plan for spending is provided.

Flores and agency staff pushed back on deleting funds, saying the relaunched Maryland 250 commission is building year-long programming and needs retained funds to seed fellowships, mini-grants and service-year partnerships. Elizabeth Hughes, executive director of the Maryland Historic Trust, said the commission’s new scope centers history, civics and service and that the commission has new leadership and staff.

The department also described operational priorities: stronger intern and apprenticeship pipelines, targeted recruitment of planners, and investments to make data and GIS tools more accessible to smaller counties. Flores said she has instructed staff to prepare a formal internship pipeline and favors paid internships to broaden access; Elizabeth Hughes described her organization's successful internship program and noted hires resulting from it.

Jeff Kane, MDP assistant secretary for operations, and Rod Caulfield, director of Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, reported on capital and program work including expansions at Jefferson Patterson and community partnerships that raised funds for local nonprofits. Hughes also updated the committee that Maryland Historic Trust has moved residential and commercial historic-tax-credit applications online, improving accessibility and allowing digital photo submissions.

What happens next: DLS asked MDP to comment on partnerships and plans for Maryland 250 funds; the committee requested follow-up materials including a list of internship contacts and clarification on planned uses of retained funds before the legislature considers any budget revisions.