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Community colleges press legislature to restore 'hold harmless' after funding formula change cuts some rising campuses
Summary
Community college leaders and unions urged lawmakers to restore the CADE formula's 'hold harmless' provision after its removal produced funding declines for some colleges despite enrollment gains; the subcommittee heard testimony on enrollment, remediation, dual enrollment and workforce programs.
Community college leaders, faculty unions and higher education officials urged the Education and Economic Development Subcommittee to restore a previously used "hold harmless" protection in the CADE funding formula after changes last year led to reduced state aid for some colleges even as those institutions saw enrollment increases.
The Department of Legislative Services analyst, Kelly Norton, briefed the committee on aid to community colleges and described a roughly $23.8 million (5%) fiscal 2026 increase in state support. Norton also reviewed student persistence, developmental education completion rates, dual-enrollment participation and county tuition comparisons.
Why it matters: Community colleges play a central role in workforce development and a variety of speakers told the panel funding stability is necessary to preserve growth in dual enrollment, technical training and supports for students needing remediation or noncredit workforce credentials.
Hold harmless provision and local impacts
Several presidents and executive directors — including Brad Phillips of the Maryland Association of Community Colleges, Sandra Kurtinitis of Community College of…
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