Statement by Maryland Agriculture Secretary Roger Richardson on Proposed Budget
News Date November 01, 2007
By now you have probably heard about the state's budget situation and Governor O'Malley's revenue plan to address it during a special session of the General Assembly which is to start next week. Governor O'Malley has outlined a "Cost of Delay" budget to reflect more than $1.7 billion in cuts that will have to be made to balance the Fiscal Year 2009 budget if the General Assembly is unable to reach a consensus during the upcoming special session. We are sending to make you aware of some of the proposed reductions and how they would affect agriculture.
* The loss of funds for the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation easement program. An estimated $24 million in state transfer taxes dedicated to MALPF would be diverted to the general fund preventing the permanent protection of about 4,000 acres of farmland. This reduction would also prevent counties from offering matching funds that could protect another 1,000 acres. We know that some of the 5,000 acres would be lost to development forever, impacting growth planning, the loss of agricultural infrastructure, the loss of open space and impacts on soil and water quality.
* A $2 million cut to the cover crop program. This funding cut would eliminate 50,000 acres for planting winter small grains. Cover crops are the most cost-effective and efficient way for farmers to prevent soil erosion and to protect our waterways by taking up excess nutrients that may be leftover after the harvest of summer crops.
* A 43 percent or $1.5 million cut to the Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industries Development Corporation (MARBIDCO). The reduction would diminish MARBIDCO's ability offer loans and some targeted grants to young farmers and those who are diversifying their operations.
* A possible 10 percent reduction of state employees. For MDA, a 10 percent cut eliminates an estimated 44 positions from our operations, reducing our ability to assist the agricultural industry and to protect Maryland citizens and the environment through regulatory activities.
We hope you find this information useful. Feel free to pass this message along to others and thank you for your attention to this very important matter. (Contact: Maryland Agriculture Secretary Roger Richardson, 410/841-5880)