County Budgets Archives

News or Noise? Breaking Down Maryland’s 2026 Session

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, longtime hosts Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson are "back in the saddle" with a post-session "news or noise" breakdown of what really mattered, and what didn't, from Maryland's 2026 legislative session. 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

May 1, 2026

Housing and Community Development / Taxes and Revenues

Baltimore City Launches Property Tax Payment Plan Program

Baltimore City is introducing a new option for homeowners with past-due property taxes, allowing eligible residents to enroll in monthly payment plans rather than facing an all-or-nothing deadline. The program, now open for enrollment through May 12, offers a structured path for residents to catch up on delinquent taxes and avoid tax sale. From the press release: "Overdue property tax bills should never be the reason that any Baltimorean - especially a legacy resident -…

Comments Off

April 30, 2026

County Budgets / Education

Montgomery Proposing Record School Budget Despite Continued Enrollment Decline

With a seven year loss of almost 10,000 students, the nationally ranked Montgomery County Public School system budget has grown by $1B in that same time. In FY26 the Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) system posted the largest single year decline in student enrollment since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Year over year decline from 2024 - 2025 totaled nearly 2,200 students. This brings the nationally ranked school system to a loss of nearly…

Comments Off

April 30, 2026

County Budgets / County News

Howard Exec Ball’s Final Budget Increases School Funding, Holds Tax Rates Flat

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball introduced a $2.5 billion fiscal 2027 operating budget, outlining a spending plan that leans into essential services while managing a tightening fiscal picture. The proposal includes a $1.7 billion General Fund budget, a 6.8% increase over fiscal 2026. Growth is driven in part by stronger-than-expected revenues, including capital gains, alongside continued pressure from rising costs and State-imposed obligations. The budget holds the line on both property and income tax rates.…

Comments Off

April 30, 2026

Cannabis / Health and Human Services / Planning and Zoning / Taxes and Revenues

DOJ Moves to Loosen Cannabis Restrictions, Signals Shift Toward Rescheduling

The US Department of Justice announced a significant shift in federal cannabis policy, moving to loosen restrictions on certain cannabis products while advancing a broader effort to reclassify the drug under federal law. The action does not legalize cannabis nationwide. But it marks one of the most consequential federal moves in decades. It could reshape how the industry operates, particularly in states like Maryland that already allow medical and adult-use sales. As previously covered on…

Comments Off

April 24, 2026

County News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues

State Keeps Property Tax Rate Flat for Fiscal 2027

The Board of Public Works (BPW) voted this week to maintain the State property tax rate for fiscal 2027, keeping rates unchanged at 11.2 cents per $100 of assessed value for real property and 28.0 cents per $100 for public utility property. The three-member board approved the rates unanimously, following a recommendation from the Commission on State Debt. The State property tax supports debt service on general obligation bonds, which fund capital investments such as…

Comments Off

April 23, 2026

County Budgets / County News / Education / Housing and Community Development / Intergovernmental Relations

3 Takeaways on Counties, Policy, and Power

Most of the services people rely on every day, from roads and schools to public health and recycling, don’t come from Washington. They come from counties. That idea sits at the center of a recent conversation between Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman and Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) Executive Director Michael Sanderson, who joined the Pittman and Friends podcast to talk through how state policy decisions play out at the local level. The discussion…

Comments Off

April 22, 2026

County Budgets / Policy Deep Dive / State Budget and Fiscal Issues

Deep Dive: Disparity Grant Delivers Less Than It Promises

This article is part of MACo’s Policy Deep Dive series, where expert policy analysts explore and explain the top county policy issues of the day. Maryland created the Disparity Grant to deal with a basic problem. Counties raise revenue very differently, even when they apply the same tax rates. Some generate far more at the same rate because of higher incomes, while others cannot keep up. The program still tries to address that gap. But…

Comments Off

April 22, 2026

County News / Finance and Procurement / Housing and Community Development

Pro-Housing Measure Broadens County Options for Public Improvement Bonds

As housing affordability and development costs remain top concerns across Maryland, state lawmakers have advanced a measure to give counties greater flexibility in how they support new development. During the 2026 legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly passed HB 1216 – Insurance – Certificates of Guarantee for County Bond Requirements – All Counties, a MACo-supported bill that expands an existing tool for satisfying local bonding requirements. Under current law, only a limited number of counties…

Comments Off

April 22, 2026

County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Education / Public Safety and Corrections / School Construction and Capital Budgets / Taxes and Revenues

Baltimore County Unveils $5B Budget Focused on Public Safety, Schools, and Affordability

Baltimore County has released its proposed $5 billion Fiscal Year 2027 budget, outlining a spending plan centered on public safety, education, infrastructure, and cost-of-living pressures, all without raising taxes. The proposal reflects an effort to balance continued investment in core services with maintaining the county’s strong financial standing, including its Triple-A bond rating. Core Priorities: The FY2027 proposal directs funding toward several areas that residents are most likely to see directly, including: public safety and…

Comments Off

April 21, 2026