ANNAPOLIS -- The University System of Maryland at Hagerstown's funding has been threatened again by the Maryland General Assembly.
But Del. John P. Donoghue, D-Washington, says everyone just "needs to calm down" because the recommendation by a budget analyst with the Department of Legislative Services is likely to fail.
Donoghue said he believes the recommendation, which will be offered today in the House Appropriations Committee, calls for reducing USM-H funding for the coming budget year to $175,000. The campus currently receives about $2 million in state funds.
USM-H Executive Director C. David Warner III said the drop would be enough to shut down the campus.
Last year, as chairman of a House Appropriations subcommittee, Del. John L. Bohanan Jr., D-St. Mary's, pushed to eliminate all $2.1 million for fiscal year 2009 for USM-H and spread it among several non-USM higher-education centers, including one in his district. Under the proposal, USM-H might have received $700,000. The House and Senate negotiated a compromise that restored $2 million to USM-H.
