Money for buyouts from the Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts in Somerset County has been cut in half to $1 million for Smith Island residents with $1 million shifted to housing rehabilitation.
The buyout money was left in despite efforts by County Commissioners to have it removed.
The Salisbury Daily Times reports that Raymond Skinner, Secretary of Housing and Community Development, said the funds were left in the plan because of differing views among islanders.
On May 14th the commissioners voted to remove the option from the plan and notified the state but did not learn their vote had been overruled until May 23rd.
County Administrator Doug Taylor told the paper that, “We were led to believe it was a local decision.”
In February it was announced that $8.6 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funds were being made available to Maryland as part of Hurricane Sandy recovery legislation.
