The Maryland Board of Estimates has approved an increase in funding for a private security contract. The board approved an extra four-point-five-million-dollar contract with Metropolitan Protective Services putting the total contract with the agency at 10-million-dollars. According to the Department of General Services, the increase is earmarked to help the contractor pay off expenses. The contractor blames the pandemic for the additional costs it has incurred in the past year. The approved increase will also help fund the current contract through June.