HAGERSTOWN – As the city begins shaping its fiscal year 2027 budget, Hagerstown officials agreed to keep general fund contributions steady for eight long-supported community organizations that deliver cultural, educational and public service programs across the city.
During a recent budget work session, Finance Director Michelle Hepburn and Budget Manager Brooke Garver outlined the city’s long-standing agency contribution policy, which sets aside a fixed pool of funds each year for a small group of nonprofit and civic organizations.
The total allocation for the upcoming fiscal year will remain at $195,000, including $185,000 distributed among eight designated agencies and $10,000 reserved as a Mayor and Council contingency fund.
Core agencies continue to receive support
The eight organizations that will continue receiving city funding include:
- Community Rescue Service
- Hagerstown Municipal Band
- Hagerstown Neighborhood Development Partnership
- Maryland Symphony Orchestra
- The Maryland Theatre
- Washington County Historical Society
- Washington County Museum of Fine Arts
- Washington County Free Library
Hepburn reminded council members that the city’s funding policy, established several years ago, was designed to streamline the budget process and prevent lengthy debates over relatively small allocations. “Before the policy, we would spend multiple meetings just deciding which groups to include,” she said. “This structure helps us focus on the larger financial picture.”
The city’s contingency fund, set at $10,000, allows flexibility to assist additional organizations during the year. In recent budgets, that reserve has supported the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area, which promotes regional tourism and preservation efforts.
Council agrees to maintain approach
Councilmembers expressed overall satisfaction with the policy and the current roster of agencies. Several noted that the listed organizations play unique roles in the community, ranging from arts and cultural programming to emergency response, that align with the city’s public service mission.
Councilmember Kristin Aleshire recalled that when the policy was first created, the goal was to focus on “quasi-governmental” entities that serve residents broadly, rather than funding a wide range of private nonprofits with overlapping missions.
“This approach gives the city predictability,” Aleshire said. “It ensures that organizations providing core cultural and educational services have a stable foundation.”
Process and next steps
Hepburn explained that each fall, the designated agencies receive applications and must submit financial statements for review. The city then incorporates those figures into the proposed budget presented in the spring.
Councilmembers may adjust specific allocations before adopting the final budget. Still, the overall contribution level, currently $195,000, serves as a guide for staff as they prepare the fiscal plan for public review next year.
For the 2027 budget cycle, officials agreed there was no need to revise the list of recipients or the total funding amount. “We’re comfortable with where this stands,” Hepburn said. “It’s a modest investment that continues to support services and programs residents value.”
