Frostburg awarded $400,000 for water sustainability after Annapolis push

Rich Rinehart, of Perry Public Affairs, told Frostburg’s Mayor and Council that the city will receive $400,000 in the state capital budget for water sustainability projects after months of advocacy in Annapolis.

"We are now confidently looking at $400,000 coming to the city of Frostburg for those sustainability projects," Rinehart said during a special work session, recounting a period when the governor’s office first included the line item, the Department of Legislative Services recommended cutting it, and subcommittee leaders ultimately retained the funding.

Rinehart said Frostburg initially requested $600,000 and that the governor’s miscellaneous capital grants line included $400,000. He described coordinated efforts—letters, testimony and in-person and virtual appearances by Mayor Todd and others—that convinced subcommittee leaders to reject the DLS recommendation to remove the funding.

Mayor Todd praised staff and outside advocates for rapidly preparing testimony and materials after the potential cut surfaced. "I cannot thank you enough for giving us the heads up on that—getting us the jump that we needed to get the testimony out there," Todd said, commending staff for their late-night work to submit materials after a deadline.

Rinehart and council members said the $400,000 will support capital work tied to water sustainability; the city had not specified a final project list in the session update. Rinehart said he will include the grant and related budget detail in an end-of-session report to the council.

The meeting record indicates no formal vote or ordinance was taken at the session; this report reflects the funding status as described by Rinehart and Mayor Todd at the meeting.