From the Secretary Home
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Visioning & Moving Forward

Dear Colleagues:

This afternoon representatives from DNR, MDE, MDA and MDP are meeting with various stakeholders to outline in more detail the “Cost of Delay” Budget Scenario and its likely impacts on our respective agencies should a new revenue package not come out of the Special Session.

As referenced in my earlier message, the overall cuts to DNR and the resultant savings would break down as follows:

A power point detailing possible impacts of these cuts on staffing, facilities and programming, is posted on the intranet. (Where specific facility closures have been proposed, staff at those facilities have been notified.)

One clarification to my earlier message that referenced POS funding of staff positions: We have since verified with DBM that the program’s administrative overhead allocation will NOT be included in the POS cuts.

In times of uncertainly, I strongly believe that our employees deserve to know as much as possible about the status and details of possible cuts that may impact us and our agency. As managers, it is our duty to keep you informed -- to the best of our ability – and hopefully avoid some of the rumor and innuendo that abound under such circumstances.

At this time, I can only reiterate that the “Cost of Delay” Budget scenario is a devastating alternative – that will impact all state agencies as well as local governments – if the Special Session does not result in a revenue package that addresses the State’s $1.7 billion deficit.

We will keep you apprised as best as we can during the weeks ahead, and, in the meantime, ask you to try to remain calm and focused on our work. And again, if you have any questions or comments please pass them up the line and we will do our best to respond.

John

More Information is available from the Governor's Office web site

October 26, 2007