20-year lease for Maryland’s Environment Department raises concerns over unnecessary costs

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — For more than 20 years, Maryland’s Department of the Environment has been headquartered at Montgomery Park, a converted warehouse building in West Baltimore. And they’re not leaving for at least 20 more.

The state recently locked into a two-decade long lease, costing $167 million dollars. Helping seal the deal, a $10 million renovation agreement with the building’s owner.

A lengthy commitment state auditors are now calling shortsighted. In a new report, auditors questioned if the renovations were necessary and the costs reasonable. Additionally, “The structure of this lease may have circumvented State budget law,” the report said…

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