Analysts urge cuts to DSCI customer system and some new positions as Maryland Core expands

Jacob Cash, fiscal analyst with the Department of Legislative Services, told the Budget and Taxation Committee that the Department of Service and Civic Innovation's fiscal 2026 allowance is listed at $56,600,000 but that figure double-counts special funds with general funds. After removing the double count, DLS showed total available funds of about $41,000,000, a 12 percent increase from fiscal 2025.

The DLS analysis recommends reducing a proposed $1,000,000 for a new customer relationship management (CRM) system while retaining $500,000 for a grant-management system, and recommends cutting the proposed addition of many new service support positions. "DLS recommends reducing the $1,000,000 for the customer relationship management system, while retaining the funds for the grant management system," Cash said. DLS also recommended limiting new service success coaches to five net hires rather than the 34 implied in the governor's allowance, citing current vacancies and the department's coach-to-participant ratios.

The recommendation matters because DSCI is scaling the Maryland Core service-year…