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Maryland military department outlines federal funding dependencies; Hagerstown vehicle shop cost rises
Summary
DLS said FY27 funds include initial design money for a new Hagerstown vehicle maintenance shop largely federally funded; the Maryland Military Department explained a $7 million cost increase and said federal validation and NGB approvals are prerequisites for design authority and fund release.
Yashodara Rai, DLS budget analyst for the military department, told lawmakers the department’s five‑year CIP includes seven projects but only the Hagerstown Vehicle Maintenance Shop (VMS) receives FY27 funding: $500,000 in GEO bonds and $3,250,000 in federal congressionally directed spending. The DLS analyst noted the department’s portfolio was adjusted to defer work across four projects to preserve a manageable schedule.
Brig. Gen. Andrew Collins, presenting for Major General Janine Birkhead, said the Hagerstown VMS is 100% federally funded via a CDS earmark and explained that a DGS review found earlier square‑foot cost assumptions were too low, prompting an estimated $7,000,000 increase in the total project cost to $29,000,000. Collins said the National Guard Bureau must validate federal project documentation and issue a design authority memo; he said the federal validation and master cooperative agreement process is expected to complete in May 2026, after which the state will receive funds to proceed with professional services and solicitation.
Committee members probed the department’s facility functionality rating (reported at 28% for Army facilities) and asked for a pathway to reach a 95% functionality target. Collins said raising functionality depends primarily on operating budget investments for air units, electrical systems and roofs and noted many upgrades receive a federal match (typical splits run 75/25, 60/40 or 50/50 depending on the site). He agreed to provide further details on cost estimates and timelines.
No formal action was taken; members requested follow‑ups on the DGS cost models and the timeline for National Guard Bureau approvals.
