County hears options for distributing $1.43M in Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund money

Deputy County Attorney Don Hauser told commissioners on Jan. 27 that St. Mary’s County had received $1,434,177.69 in Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund (CRRF) monies and that none of those funds have been distributed. The CRRF, established in its modern form in 2023, directs a portion of cannabis-related tax and conversion-fee revenues to local jurisdictions for distribution to community initiatives in disproportionately impacted or low‑income areas.

Hauser noted that the Office of Social Equity (OSE) selected ZIP code 20653 (Lexington Park) as a disproportionately impacted area and that much of the state’s finer regulatory guidance on eligibility for “low income” areas remained under development at the time of the meeting. He said county staff could take two broad paths: (1) move quickly to design a program limited to the OSE-identified ZIP code and to the statutory list of eligible initiative types, or (2) attempt a locally defined low‑income standard (for example, by census tract) to include additional neighborhoods, accepting some risk that forthcoming state regulations could require revisions.

Commissioners pressed for action, warning that legislation in Annapolis (and a possible shift in state rules) could change the distribution or timing of funds. Some commissioners advocated moving forward with an interim program limited to ZIP 20653 so grants could be made under current state guidance; others urged a principled local definition of low income to reach other neighborhoods with pressing infrastructure needs. Several commissioners favored prioritizing one‑time capital projects that provide demonstrable community benefit rather than recurring operating expenses.

Hauser said he would draft a program/process, coordinate with relevant county departments (finance, economic development, aging/human services, emergency services) and return to the board with a draft for further direction on Feb. 10, 2026.