County Budgets Archives

Frederick Moves Forward on Green Infrastructure Plan

Frederick County is moving ahead with a long-range planning effort aimed at protecting natural resources, improving resilience, and shaping how growth and conservation work together over time. The County Council is set to begin reviewing the county’s Green Infrastructure Plan, a policy framework focused on preserving and connecting environmental, agricultural, and recreational assets across Frederick County. While the title may sound technical, the larger question behind the plan is straightforward: "How should the county protect…

Comments Off

April 9, 2026

County Budgets / County News

Baltimore City’s Budget Reveals 2027 Priorities

Baltimore’s proposed FY2027 budget offers a clear picture of where city leaders want to focus next: core services, neighborhood investment, youth support, and long-term infrastructure. Mayor of Baltimore City, Brandon Scott’s preliminary budget closes a $12M funding gap while maintaining or expanding funding for several visible priorities, including violence prevention, summer jobs, homelessness services, libraries, public safety infrastructure, and neighborhood investment. That makes this more than a routine budget release. It is also a snapshot…

Comments Off

April 9, 2026

County News / Economic Development / Finance and Procurement

Frederick Examines Equity in County Contracting

Frederick County is taking a closer look at procurement, specifically, how its contracting system works, and who it works for. County officials have released the County’s first-ever Procurement Disparity Study, an analysis of whether barriers exist to businesses' access to public contracting opportunities. The study marks a step toward evaluating fairness, access, and participation in county procurement, an issue many local governments are looking into. Conducted based on procurement data gathered for five years, the…

Comments Off

April 2, 2026

County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Education / Emergency Management / General Assembly News / Intergovernmental Relations

Conduit Street Podcast: Puzzle Pieces of the Balanced Budget

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson break down where Maryland’s budget and “Big BRFA” stand as the General Assembly enters its final weeks. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in the know!

Comments Off

March 27, 2026

County Budgets / County News / Housing and Community Development

Queen Anne’s County Cuts Property Tax Rate While Growing Its Budget

Queen Anne’s County is moving to lower its property tax rate, even as its proposed budget for the coming fiscal year shows a significant increase. During the presentation of the County Administrator’s proposed FY2027 budget, the Queen Anne’s County Commissioners voted to reduce the county property tax rate from $0.83 to $0.80 per $100 of assessed value, effective July 1. The move comes alongside a proposed $234.5 million operating budget, up about 12% from the…

Comments Off

March 26, 2026

Finance and Procurement / General Assembly News / MACo Testimony

MACo: Stop Making Counties Pay for State Decisions

On March 20, MACo testified before the House Judiciary Committee in support of HB 1605 – Compensation for Individuals Erroneously Convicted - County Cost-Sharing - Repeal. This bill corrects a flawed policy enacted as a small component of the 2025 Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act that requires counties to fund wrongful-incarceration compensation decisions made entirely through State processes. Under current law, the State determines eligibility, calculates awards, and sets all terms through administrative and judicial…

Comments Off

March 26, 2026

Agriculture / County Budgets / County News / Economic Development

Howard County Doubles Down on Agriculture

Howard County is putting more money, and more long-term planning, behind local agriculture. During his annual State of Agriculture address, County Executive Calvin Ball announced $600,000 in grant funding for local farms and agricultural businesses, alongside several new initiatives aimed at strengthening the county’s agricultural economy and preserving its future. While the grant awards drew the headlines, the bigger takeaway is this: Howard County is continuing to build out a broad, county-level strategy to support…

Comments Off

March 25, 2026

County Budgets / Feature / General Assembly News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues

House Appropriations Committee Rejects AOT Cost Shift, Budget Moves to House Floor

The House Appropriations Committee rejected a proposed assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) cost shift and advanced the Budget Bill (SB 282) and Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (SB 284) to the House floor. The Senate retained the AOT provision, which would have required counties to reimburse the Maryland Department of Health for escalating shares of program costs, starting at 25% and rising to 100%. The House removed that provision, avoiding a significant new State-mandated, locally funded…

Comments Off

March 25, 2026

County Budgets / General Assembly News / MACo Testimony / Taxes and Revenues

Veterans’ Tax Credit Bills Advance With MACo Amendments, Mandate Stalls

Two veterans’ property tax credit bills are moving forward with MACo amendments, while a broader mandatory expansion appears dead after crossover. HB 842, as introduced, repealed the current two-year eligibility requirement for a property tax exemption for specified surviving spouses, expanding a mandatory exemption and directly reducing a primary local revenue source counties rely on to fund core services. MACo supports providing meaningful relief to eligible residents, and many counties already offer locally adopted property…

Comments Off

March 24, 2026

Business Affairs / County News / General Assembly News / Housing and Community Development / Taxes and Revenues

General Assembly Advances Flexible Local Tools for Housing, Small Business, Families

Several bills advancing this session expand flexible, local tools for housing, small business activity, redevelopment, and family support, backed by MACo. HB 805 has passed the House and is now before the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. The bill authorizes local governments to grant a property tax credit for specified affordable dwellings supported by nonprofit mortgage financing and long-term affordability requirements, allowing counties to align the tool with local housing markets and fiscal capacity. HB…

Comments Off

March 24, 2026