County gives cash back to group

Nonprofit funds multiple projects in Charles

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009

The county commissioners returned about $1,600 to nonprofit Southern Maryland Resource Conservation & Development after a request was sent in mid-October from the chairwoman of the group asking the commissioners to relieve the agency of any budget cuts or furloughs.

County Administrator Rebecca Bridgett said at the commissioners' meeting last week that the group had been affected when the commissioners implemented cost cutting actions in early September.

Some of the projects the organization supports include the Port Tobacco Archaeological Survey and Potomac Heritage Trail.

"This is one of the regional organizations which receives nominal funding from the county and yet ... in combination with funding received from other counties that delivers to us benefits on the order of $20 for every $1 we invest in the program," said Commissioner Gary V. Hodge (D).

"The point being when we reduce and other counties do not reduce, it potentially causes a multiplier impact on the part of counties that have not made that decision."

msomers@somdnews.com