Sheriff's office to join learning collaborative; commissioners approve application for state police aid

Sheriff's Office leaders asked the commissioners to approve a memorandum of understanding to participate in a learning collaborative coordinated by Health Management Associates (HMA) and the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy to enhance behavioral health treatment and reentry planning in local detention centers. Officials said participation could make St. Mary's Corrections eligible for between one and three stipends totaling up to $35,000, and requested a related revenue‑only budget amendment to establish the $35,000 in the detention center budget. The board approved the MOU and the budget amendment by voice vote.

Sheriff's Office staff also presented Part 1 of the FY27 State Aid for Police Protection (SAP) application, a statutory formula program administered by the Maryland Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy to assist local jurisdictions with police protection costs. Staff described how Part 1 contains estimated FY26 operational and capital expenditures that the state will use to calculate FY27 aid. In the presentation staff used an estimated figure of $1,300,000 for planning purposes and noted the final award will be set after submission of Form 1 in January 2026. A commissioner asked whether the planning figure was $1,287,004.13; staff said the final number will be adjusted after state award and reminded commissioners that corrections and court security expenditures cannot be included in the SAP submission. The board voted to approve the grant application and authorized the commission president and sheriff to execute and submit the application electronically.