The Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) told the Maryland Horse Council (MHC) today that it could not meet its statutory obligation to respond to MHC’s Public Information Act (MPIA) request.
MHC submitted its MPIA request on December 29 and by law, the State had 30 days to produce the material. MHC asked for “documents regarding the state funds expended on the Maryland 5 Star during Mr. Hasseltine’s tenure, including expenses; amounts paid to independent contractors, consultants, and vendors; and amounts paid to governmental, quasi-governmental, and media/marketing agencies.”
MSA’s deadline expired today, January 29, and today, MSA requested an additional 30 days, until February 27, to comply.
This means that MHC will not have the material in time for MSA’s budget briefing to a Senate Budget and Tax sub-committee. That budget hearing is scheduled for Monday, February 2. That budget hearing is an opportunity for legislators to ask MSA questions about the procurement process for the Maryland 5 Star, MSA’s plans for future equestrian events at Fair Hill, and explanations for the abrupt exit of the team who ran the Maryland 5 Star from 2021 to 2025.
The Maryland Constitution requires the legislators to pass a balanced budget each year. This year, the General Assembly is facing a revenue shortfall of at least ~$1.5 billion, which means it must make difficult decisions about which programs it can afford to fund.
MSA’s inability to meet its statutory obligations means that legislators may not have the facts they need to make fiscally responsible budget decisions as they pertain to the horse industry.