Historic St. Mary's City seeks staff conversions, readies visitor center as DLS recommends concurrence with FY26 allowance

The Historic St. Mary’s City Commission’s fiscal 2026 allowance rises about $94,000 to roughly $7.0 million, a Department of Legislative Services analyst told the Education and Economic Development Subcommittee.

DLS analyst Elizabeth Veil told the panel the commission oversees about 1,000 acres including reconstructed period buildings, research archaeology and public programming. “The fiscal 20 26 allowance increases about $94,000 to $7,000,000 total,” Veil said, and DLS recommended concurrence with the governor’s allowance.

The commission’s budget profile, as Veil summarized, shows maintenance accounts for about 23% of spending, research archaeology about 21% and public programming and administration roughly 21% each. Veil said the agency has several active excavations, including “the recently rediscovered fort that was the first European settlement in the area,” and noted that archaeology stretches back roughly 10,000 years at the site.

John Bridal, the commission’s executive director, told the subcommittee the allowance’s personnel increases include seven contractual conversions for existing hourly employees. “This budget’s 7 staff conversions are enormously important to us,” Bridal said, saying conversions should aid recruitment and retention. Bridal also identified line-item requests for archaeology equipment, museum exhibits and consulting with Piscataway representatives to improve interpretation.

DLS noted a recent decline in recreational visits and special fund revenues (ticket sales, site rentals and donations). The commission attributes the drop in part to a better estimate of trail users, the July 2023 closure of an on-site bakery that drew visitors, and several summer heat-related park closures in 2023. School tours also remain below pre-pandemic levels; Bridal said staff are contacting districts to ask why tours have not returned.

The commission is preparing for the opening of a new Maryland Heritage Interpretive Center, a visitor center expected in spring or early summer 2026; Bridal said “a lot of work is being done now to prepare for that.”

Veil reviewed the commission’s response to a March 2023 audit that identified weaknesses in cash management and the absence of written policies and procedures. She said the commission reported implementing all nine audit recommendations and submitted documentation. Bridal confirmed the commission conducted a confidential staff survey in summer 2024 that showed strong mission alignment but a need for additional training and internal recognition.

No formal action was recorded during the subcommittee presentation; the DLS recommendation is to concur with the governor’s allowance. The commission and analysts answered committee member questions about nonstate revenue development and retention.

Details: maintenance 23% of budget; archaeology 21%; seven contractual conversions; visitor center expected spring–summer 2026; DLS recommends concurrence with governor’s allowance.