Maryland State Police budget rises; DLS flags personnel drivers and consent-decree changes

The Department of Legislative Services told the Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee that the Maryland Department of State Police’s fiscal 2026 allowance increases by $47,400,000 to $668,900,000, and that “about 92% of that growth can be attributed to personnel salary enhancements,” DLS analyst Madeline Miller said.

The budget increase is concentrated in personnel: DLS noted personnel costs represent about 81.8% of the department’s total expenditures and the Field Operations Bureau receives the largest program share. DLS highlighted several performance measures — including increases in Part 1 property crimes and an uptick in traffic-fatality rates — that frame the department’s resource requests.

Why it matters: the spending request and the department’s planned personnel changes come as Maryland confronts higher property-crime counts and a post-pandemic rise in traffic fatalities, while the department is also implementing changes tied to a U.S. Department of Justice consent decree and Board of Public Works actions that affect recruiting tests and monetary awards.

DLS presentation and key figures

“Between fiscal 25 and 26 the department’s budget increases by 47,400,000 to 668,900,000.0,” Madeline Miller said. DLS exhibits cited a 16.6% rise in Part 1 offenses per 100,000 residents between calendar 2022 and 2023, and described traffic-fatality trends that left Maryland’s vehicle‑miles‑traveled below 2019 levels while the fatality rate rose. DLS also reported that the Office of the State Fire Marshal’s inspections increased by about 74.7% from 2020 to 2024 and that fire‑related deaths rose to 84 in 2023.

Budget details and special funds

DLS identified multiple budget adjustments: two cost-containment actions approved by the Board of Public Works in July 2024 that reduced general‑fund support for the computer forensics laboratory and shifted three emergency dispatcher positions to a special fund (the Maryland Emergency Medical Systems Operations Fund, or MEMSOF). DLS described proposed deficiency actions that would add roughly $6.4 million to field operations for insurance and reimbursable overtime, and several swaps exchanging general funds for special funds tied to MEMSOF and commercial vehicle enforcement.

DLS also noted a $1.5 million proposed increase for Maryland State Police Aviation Command (MSPAC) helicopter maintenance, but warned the allowance may understate total MSPAC costs. A provision in the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFAA) discussed in the hearing would expand allowable MEMSOF uses to include MSPAC general operations; DLS said the BRFAA language does not limit the amount but the budget bill limits MEMSOF support to $5.5 million in the two years.

Cadets, vacancies and recruiting

DLS reported that the allowance adds 15 trooper cadet positions (bringing the potential total to 45 cadet positions in fiscal 2026) and includes about $1.1 million in new funding for those positions. The department had 26 trooper cadet positions in the working appropriation, 11 of which were vacant as of Dec. 31, 2024. DLS recommended eliminating the 15 new vacant positions and reducing a double-counted special‑fund appropriation tied to cadet funding.

Secretary Roland L. Butler Jr., representing the Maryland Department of State Police, said the department did not concur with some DLS reductions. Butler asked that the department keep the 15 special‑funded positions and said the cadet program helps recruit young people into law enforcement. “We’re seizing the opportunity to create our own test,” Butler added, referencing plans to move away from the current POST test after Board of Public Works approval of about $360,000 to procure new entry‑level selection tests.

Consent decree and hiring changes

DLS described a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the department’s hiring and promotional practices and said a consent decree was filed in October 2024 and provisionally approved by the U.S. District Court for Maryland in November 2024. DLS reported the decree requires the department to use lawful tests and to provide $2,750,000 in monetary awards and priority hiring for up to 25 applicants provisionally disqualified under prior procedures. Final judicial approval was scheduled for March (year referenced in the DLS analysis); Butler said the court had not yet ruled but that the department intends to implement improvements and to develop an MSP‑specific test.

Vehicle Theft Prevention Council and local enforcement

DLS reviewed grants and council spending; Butler asked that $690,724 proposed for deletion from the Vehicle Theft Prevention Council remain in the budget, saying the council funds local enforcement, clinics to support vehicle software updates and prosecution support for jurisdictions hard‑hit by thefts and carjackings.

Questions and follow-up

Committee members asked the department to provide additional detail on cadet per‑person costs, plans to fill long‑term vacancies, and the department’s implementation timeline for new entry‑level tests. DLS recommended restricting certain funds pending submission of Maryland’s Uniform Crime Report (UCR) and suggested adopting annual language tying releases to receipt of the 2024 UCR; Butler concurred with releasing withheld funds tied to the 2023 UCR submission but objected to some DLS proposed appropriation deletions.

Speakers

Madeline Miller, DLS analyst (Department of Legislative Services) Roland L. Butler Jr., Colonel and Secretary, Maryland Department of State Police (government) John Wilhelm, Chief Financial Officer, Maryland Department of State Police (government) Jason Mowbray, Acting State Fire Marshal (government) Sierra Hawkins, Deputy Fire Marshal (government) Delegate Jazz Lewis, Chair, Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee (government) Delegate Sonko, Subcommittee member (government) Delegate McComas, Subcommittee member (government) Delegate Elliot, Subcommittee member (government)

Authorities

{ "type":"statute","name":"Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964","citation":"Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964","referenced_by":["dls_presentation","doj_investigation"] }

{ "type":"other","name":"Board of Public Works approvals","citation":"Board of Public Works actions, July 2024","referenced_by":["budget_cost_containment"] }

{ "type":"other","name":"Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFAA)","citation":"BRFAA provision (fiscal) expanding MEMSOF uses)","referenced_by":["budget_swaps"] }

Clarifying details

{ "category":"budget_change","detail":"Allowance increases by $47,400,000 to $668,900,000","value":47400000,"units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Madeline Miller" }

{ "category":"personnel_share","detail":"Personnel costs represent 81.8% of expenditures","source_speaker":"Madeline Miller" }

{ "category":"cadet_positions","detail":"Allowance includes 15 new trooper cadet positions; total cadet positions projected at 45 in fiscal 26","value":45,"units":"positions","source_speaker":"Madeline Miller" }

{ "category":"consent_decree_awards","detail":"Monetary awards of $2,750,000 and priority hiring for up to 25 applicants required by consent decree","value":2750000,"units":"USD","source_speaker":"Madeline Miller" }

proper_names:[{"name":"Maryland Department of State Police","type":"agency"},{"name":"Maryland State Police Aviation Command","type":"agency"},{"name":"Maryland Emergency Medical Systems Operations Fund","type":"other"},{"name":"Uniform Crime Report","type":"other"}]

discussion_decision:{"discussion_points":["Budget increases driven by personnel costs","Impacts of consent decree on hiring and testing","Vacancy and cadet recruitment strategy","Vehicle Theft Prevention Council funding and local enforcement"],"directions":["DSP to provide cadet per‑person cost and vacancy plan","Committees to consider UCR-linked budget language"],"decisions":[]}

provenance:{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"t57.49","local_start":0,"local_end":120,"evidence_excerpt":"Good afternoon Chair Lewis and committee. My name is Madeline Miller and today I'll be presenting the DLS budget analysis for the Department of State Police.","tc_start":"00:00:57","tc_end":"00:01:37","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"t1676.705","local_start":0,"local_end":120,"evidence_excerpt":"The Maryland Department of State Police continues to expand and rely on its cadet program for future recruiting efforts...Lastly, we concur with the DLS recommendation to release the withheld funds associated with the submission of the uniform crime report.","tc_start":"00:27:56","tc_end":"00:28:16","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]}

searchable_tags:["state police","budget","consent decree","cadets","vehicle theft","MSPAC"]

salience:{"overall":0.88,"overall_justification":"Large statewide budget with personnel implications, pending federal consent‑decree actions, and public safety metrics","impact_scope":"state","impact_scope_justification":"Budget affects statewide law enforcement operations","attention_level":"high","attention_level_justification":"High public safety salience and legal requirements from DOJ"}