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Allegany College of Maryland asks county to maintain funding to secure $1.1 million state increase
Summary
Allegany College of Maryland told county commissioners that level funding is required to secure a one‑time $1.1 million state allocation for FY26 and asked the county to preserve the local maintenance‑of‑effort so the state increase is not lost permanently.
Allegany College of Maryland representatives told the Allegany County Commissioners that the college needs the county to provide level funding in fiscal year 2026 to qualify for a state allocation of about $1,100,000, an 11.2% increase over last year tied to enrollment and the state formula.
"Any reduction in county funds, even $1, will not only negate this increase for fiscal year 26, but will permanently reduce that base that will never ever be provided again," a college representative said during the presentation.
The college said it is requesting level funding to meet the state maintenance‑of‑effort requirement and outlined internal efforts to control costs. The presenter said about 70% of the college’s budget is compensation costs and described ongoing expense‑reduction and revenue‑generation efforts, including grant work and a microgrid energy project being developed with grant support from the Maryland Energy Administration.
Kim Leonard, chairman of the college board of trustees, framed the request as a community investment, saying the college provides a local trained workforce. Jane Belt, vice chair of the board and executive with the Belt Group of Companies, and Michelle Martz, president and CEO of UPMC Western Maryland, described employer reliance on the college as a pipeline for nurses, CNAs and other skilled workers.
Student speakers reinforced the workforce argument. "Your investment in ACM is an investment in me. I am Allegany County and I am ACM," said Alex Lockey, a nursing student who said she will graduate in May and plans to work at UPMC Western Maryland. Cybersecurity student Scott Morris said he expects to graduate next May and remain in Allegany County.
In response to a commissioner question, the college reiterated that the roughly $1.1 million shown in the state budget for FY26 is currently included but emphasized that the state increase depends on the county maintaining level funding. The college said it did not request new capital projects beyond the planned renewal of the workforce training center, which the state would fund at 70% with a required local share.
The college provided the commissioners with a 31‑page budget packet and said it will continue evaluating positions when vacancies occur and pursue technology and efficiency measures to manage compensation costs.
Commissioners acknowledged the college’s role and, in remarks during the meeting, said they recognize the institution’s importance to the local workforce and noted the county had been level‑funding the college to date.
