To the Editor:

 How can a taxpayer-funded institution get away with building a 25 million dollar Administration Building, a seven million dollar Yacht Center and Boathouse, a one million dollar county land deal for “Viewscape”, a three million  dollar pedestrian bridge over Route 5 (and the list goes on)?  Conservative estimates are that President Maggie O’Brien and her willing co-conspirators have spent over 1/3 billion (yes I said billion) taxpayer dollars on frivolous and “gold-plated” construction projects at St. Mary’s College.  Our public school infrastructure is crumbling, and we struggle to build one school every five years.  The Administration Building at SMC cost about $4 million more than the entire new elementary school in Wildewood (an entire complex for 650-700 students.

St. Mary’s College just got approval for a “free” (Ha-Ha) 10-year lease for land in Alba, Italy.  They will spend millions to rehab the building on that land, and at the end of the 10 years, the Italians can say “Thank you very  much for the fine building—it is over.”  Johns Hopkins University recently announced it is cutting back from 3 to 1 overseas campus as they are not cost-effective.  Why is SMC trying to expand its overseas locations?

Bottom line—St. Mary’s College spending is totally out of line and the citizens have no say.  That’s why the elitist Board of Trustees can spend your taxpayer dollars on the new multi-million dollar mega-pier (of course “Squire” Muldoon, President of the Board of Trustees must have adequate pier space for his 60’ yacht.  SMC is already the highest cost tuition state school in Maryland.  Governor O’Malley has already frozen tuition at other state schools. 

The real travesty is there is ZERO accountability for spending taxpayer dollars at St. Mary’s College.  They have a direct line to “earmarked pork barrel projects through Congressman Steny Hoyer who is on the Board of Trustees. 

They spend taxpayer dollars and do not publish for the public their budget, expenses or spending.  As Senator Dyson says “Even I can’t get a handle on SMC spending”.  The Federal government, the State of Maryland and St. Mary’s County all have proposed budgets  and final budgets published that are open to the public.  Any taxpayer can find out costs, budgets or spending.  Time for the liberal elitists at SMC to open their books to the same scrutiny.  It is the right, ethical and moral thing to do.

Donald E. Beck
St. Mary’s City, MD