Annapolis, MD – Yesterday, Governor Larry Hogan released his budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 for the state of Maryland including substantial funding for programs supporting conservation, outdoor recreation and the Chesapeake Bay.

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Governor Hogan’s budget for FY 23 would provide full funding for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund. The Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund is one of the primary tools for the state of Maryland to clean the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and tributaries by reducing non-point source pollution.

The FY 23 budget also includes full funding for Program Open Space, a suite of programs funded through a real estate transfer tax that support land conservation, agricultural land preservation, state and local parks, historic preservation, and Maryland’s Heritage Areas Program. The budget also includes a $30.5 million repayment to Program Open Space for funding that had been previously diverted away from the program to the General Fund.

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The budget also includes substantial funding to invest in Maryland state parks and forests, and it includes funding to support Maryland’s newly established Office of Outdoor Recreation.

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Chesapeake Conservancy’s President and CEO Joel Dunn issued the following statement in support of the Governor’s announcement.“Chesapeake Conservancy applauds Governor Hogan on his FY 23 budget for the state of Maryland. Once again, the Governor’s budget provides full funding for two of Maryland’s most important environmental conservation programs, the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund and Program Open Space.

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“Maryland’s environment – including its natural areas, parks, forests and the Chesapeake Bay – contributes greatly to quality of life for Marylanders, but also contributes greatly to public health and to our economy.

“This budget wisely prioritizes conservation funding to ensure that Maryland can continue to protect open space for the benefit of people and nature, and continue to restore and protect our greatest natural resource, the Chesapeake Bay.

“I thank Governor Hogan for his outstanding and consistent commitment to supporting conservation and the Chesapeake Bay, and I urge the General Assembly to support these key investments in Maryland’s environment.”

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Feature Photo by Michael Weiss