This agency was created in 1958 to operate and maintain the fifteen-
story State Office Building and the six-story State Roads Building,
first occupied in 1959. The Superintendent is responsible for facilities
consisting of parking areas, heating and air conditioning plant, com-
mon telephone switchboard, concession-operated cafeteria, modern ele-
vators, landscaped grounds, etc. The buildings house forty-one State
agencies. The cost of operation is partially borne by funds collected
from Special Fund Agencies (Acts 1959, chap. 585).

Appropriations 1961 1962

Gross Requirements ....... . ... ... $490,204 $537,180
Reimbursable Funds ......... ..... 148,583 157,548

Net General Funds ...... ...... .... $341,621 $379,582
Staff: 62.

Public Planning

STATE PLANNING DEPARTMENT
State Planning Commission

Chairman: Joseph Meyerhoff, 1963

Ex officio members: William S. James, State Senate; E.

Homer White, Jr., House of Delegates.

Appointed members: James C. Anderson, 1968; John. McC.
Mowbray, 1963; F. Murray Benson, 1965; James H. Grove,
1965; Saul 1. Stern, 1965; Sidney H. Tingley, Jr., 1966.

James J. O'Donnell, Director

301 W. Preston Street, Baltimore I Telephone: 837-9000

The State Planning Department was created by Chapter 543, Acts
of 1959 as the successor to the Maryland State Planning Commission,
established by Chapter 39, Acts of the Special Session of 1933.

The State Planning Department functions "as the Governor's Staff
Agency in planning matters," and prepares and keeps up-to-date a
program for the development and effective employment of all State
resources, known as the State Development Plan. To this end the
Department studies "the resources of the State and . . . existing and
emerging problems of agriculture, commerce, transportation, popula-
tion, housing, public service, local government" and other matters that
affect the development of Maryland. It also "prepares the State's
capital program in collaboration with the Department of Budget and
Procurement and . . . assists in the preparation of the annual capital
budget." In addition, it acts "as an advisory . . . and coordinating
agency," harmonizing its planning activities with those of State or
local government agencies and providing these agencies with planning
assistance. Finally, it attempts to stimulate "public interest and par-
ticipation in the development of the State." The Director of the State
Planning Department is appointed by the Governor and serves at his
pleasure.

The law provides for a State Planning Commission within the State
Planning Department to advise and assist the Director. The Commis-
sion consists of nine members; Seven are appointed by the Governor
for four-year terms; the other two represent the House of Delegates
and the State Senate and are appointed by the Speaker of the House
and the President of the Senate respectively.