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Residents press council on cannabis reinvestment funds, youth jobs and extension cuts
Summary
Speakers asked the council to release cannabis-reinvestment funds, protect summer youth employment, preserve extension funding and support local nonprofits such as Food and Friends; council members outlined where appointments and allocations stand and promised follow-up.
Several residents used the listening session to press the council about county funding for community programs, including cannabis-reinvestment dollars, summer youth employment and cooperative-extension services.
One resident said the county has "about maybe a little over $10,000,000 sitting somewhere in the state that is supposed to be used for community reinvestment because of the cannabis sales," and asked what the council is doing to distribute those funds. Chair Crystal Oriada said the council passed a cannabis-reinvestment act and appointed its district members, but that the county executive had not submitted two executive appointees so the board could not legally meet; she said $2.6 million was allocated for the current fiscal year and that the executive's office was working to submit the remaining names.
On youth employment, speakers warned against proposed reductions and emphasized county programs to expand year-round jobs. Several commenters urged the county not to cut summer opportunities while investing in surveillance or other priorities.
Community nonprofits also described services the county funds. Cameron Whitaker of Food and Friends told the council the organization provided "over 540,000 meals to over 1,000 county residents" last year and urged continued county support for medically tailored meals for residents with serious illnesses.
A former extension educator asked the council to reconsider a proposed 90% cut to University of Maryland Extension funding, detailing the program's reach and volunteer hours and arguing that the county leverages federal funds through local support.
Council members acknowledged the urgency of distributing cannabis funds once the board can legally convene and said they will follow up with the county executive's office; they also said committee hearings will review budget trade-offs and that constituent services remain available to help community organizations pursue grants and special appropriations.
