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Commissioners close public hearing, adopt amendment to de‑obligate most state Homestretch broadband funds
Summary
Calvert County adopted a budget amendment and resolution to accept an amended grant agreement that reduces the state's Homestretch 'difficult to serve properties' award from $1.1 million to $47,184.27 and to de‑obligate the remainder; the board authorized the commission president to sign the grant amendment.
Calvert County commissioners on Oct. 7 closed a public hearing and approved a budget amendment to reflect an amended state grant agreement that reduced the county’s Homestretch difficult‑to‑serve properties broadband award.
Ashley Staples Reed, special project program manager for planning, told the board that the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Office of Statewide Broadband (OSB) originally awarded the county $1,100,000 in June 2024 with a required $550,000 county match. OSB later changed eligibility rules for addresses submitted by local jurisdictions, substantially reducing the number of qualifying homes and the award to $47,184.27. A grant amendment reflecting the reduced funding was provided to the county and a public hearing was required to de‑obligate the state funds.
The board voted to close the record, adopt and enact the resolution approving budget amendment BA 20 26‑000135 to de‑obligate the unallocated state funds from CIP 00032 (broadband expansion), and authorized the commissioner president to execute the grant amendment on the board’s behalf.
Staples Reed told commissioners the revised grant will cover only 22 homes; the county is still working to connect additional scattered pockets (about 60 addresses) that face easement and right‑of‑way issues. She said the county has connected “upwards of the 700s” of homes through prior phases and COVID‑era funding and that general fund contributions to date have been “minimal,” with most build‑outs supported by grants.
The motion to adopt the budget amendment and authorize signature carried by voice vote.
