Read more about the article Talbot County Funds $1.3M Increase for Education in FY27
County Budgets / Education
Talbot County Funds $1.3M Increase for Education in FY27

Talbot County Council approved a total FY27 schools appropriation of nearly $65M between operating and capital costs. In a vote on Tuesday the Talbot County Council finalized the FY27 budget with a $1.3M operating fund increase to the local school system and an additional $400K in discretionary funds for school security. These increases come despite continued declining enrollment across Talbot County Public Schools (TCPS), underscoring the county governments commitment to public school education. Additional allocations…

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May 28, 2026
Read more about the article Charles County Sends $15M More in Discretionary Funding to Local School Board
County Budgets / Education
Charles County Sends $15M More in Discretionary Funding to Local School Board

Charles County Government adopts FY27 budget for the local board of education including $256M in operating funds and $260M in capital outlay. The Charles County Government approved $255,783,400 in funding for the Charles County Board of Education as part of its FY27 budget, reflecting continued investment in the county’s public school system. This allocation comes from a total county budget of $644,157,500, meaning roughly 40% of all county spending is directed toward the Board of…

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May 28, 2026
Read more about the article Beyond the Original Grand Bargain: Maryland’s Evolving Workers’ Comp System
Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Policy Deep Dive
Beyond the Original Grand Bargain: Maryland’s Evolving Workers’ Comp System

Workers’ compensation systems were designed around the idea that employees injured on the job would receive guaranteed benefits without having to prove employer fault, while employers would receive protection from unpredictable lawsuits and liability. This framework is often referred to as the “grand bargain” concept and has shaped workers’ compensation law across the country for more than a century. Workers’ compensation emerged as a compromise between labor and industry during the late nineteenth and early…

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May 27, 2026
Read more about the article MD Sets Payment Limits on Ozempic Amid Rising Prescription Costs
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Health and Human Services
MD Sets Payment Limits on Ozempic Amid Rising Prescription Costs

Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board has taken another step to rein in prescription costs. The Board voted to cap payments for Ozempic in state and local government health plans, a move projected to save public employers millions each year. Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) determined Ozempic is unaffordable for people living in the state. The Board voted to place upper payment limits on the diabetes and weight-loss drug for state and local government health…

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May 21, 2026
Read more about the article State Grant Program Supports Buprenorphine Training for County EMS Personnel
County News / Education / Health and Human Services / News You Can Use
State Grant Program Supports Buprenorphine Training for County EMS Personnel

Maryland counties may be eligible for up to $10,000 in state grant funding to support paramedic training on buprenorphine administration, as state and local officials continue to expand overdose response and treatment efforts statewide. The funding opportunity, offered through Maryland’s Office of Overdose Response (MOOR), is part of the state’s ongoing strategy to strengthen local overdose response systems and improve access to treatment for opioid use disorder. For counties, the grant represents another example of…

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May 21, 2026
Read more about the article MD Department of Education Updates State Board on College and Career Preparation Progress
Education
MD Department of Education Updates State Board on College and Career Preparation Progress

During a recent meeting of the Maryland State Board of Education (MSBE), state officials updated board members on progress towards getting all students college and career ready between grade ten and graduation. Current data shows a little more than 50 percent of students met the college and career readiness standard at the conclusion of the 2024 - 2025 school year.  A primary component of the Maryland education reform plan - the Blueprint for Maryland's Future…

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May 14, 2026
Read more about the article County HR Professionals Convene for MACo’s 2026 HR Affiliate Conference
Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources
County HR Professionals Convene for MACo’s 2026 HR Affiliate Conference

County human resources professionals came together this week at MACo's 2026 Human Resources Affiliate Conference, held at the Claggett Center in Frederick County. The two-day event blended networking and timely policy discussions, equipping local HR leaders with tools and insights to navigate an increasingly complex workforce landscape. The conference opened on May 6 with a welcoming reception and dinner, offering attendees the opportunity to connect with peers from across jurisdictions before a full day of…

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May 8, 2026
Read more about the article Anne Arundel Proposes FY27 Budget Focused on Education, Public Safety, and Core Services
County Budgets / County News / Education / Public Safety and Corrections
Anne Arundel Proposes FY27 Budget Focused on Education, Public Safety, and Core Services

Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman has released a proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget that continues investments in education, public safety, and essential services, while maintaining relatively stable tax rates. As counties across Maryland continue to navigate rising costs, education funding requirements, and evolving service demands, the proposal offers a snapshot of how one jurisdiction is balancing competing priorities. The County Council will now begin its review of the proposal, with public hearings scheduled later…

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May 7, 2026
Read more about the article May 15 Deadline for Input on Education Reform Implementation
Education
May 15 Deadline for Input on Education Reform Implementation

Local officials have until May 15, 2026 to submit feedback for the 2026 update to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future Comprehensive Plan. The deadline is approaching for local governments to provide input on the annual update of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future (Blueprint) Comprehensive Plan (BCP) - which is essentially a progress report on implementation of the State education reform package. Jurisdictions are being asked to provide targeted feedback on implementation progress. Submissions can be…

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May 6, 2026
Read more about the article Montgomery Proposing Record School Budget Despite Continued Enrollment Decline
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…

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April 30, 2026
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