Finance and Procurement Archives

Academy for Excellence Grads: Register Today for the Fiscal Resiliency Course

The Academy for Excellence in Local Governance is offering a Graduate course on fiscal resiliency for local governments. The Academy for Excellence in Local Governance is a voluntary certificate program for county and municipal officials and features foundational and deep-dive courses centering on governance best practices. The Academy Graduate program is a professional development program for those who have completed the Academy Fellow certificate. Title: Fiscal Resiliency for Municipalities and Counties in Maryland Description: The 3.5 hour…

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April 17, 2024

Transparency Dashboard Coming for State Board of Public Works

Legislation passed this session to create a "transparency dashboard" to open easier access to Maryland Board of Public Works meetings, where state-level contracts and procurements receive final administrative approval from that three-member public body. This implements a recommendation of the Comptroller's transition team, where local governments and other stakeholders offered guidance on best practices for that role and the Board on which the Comptroller serves. HB 877, passed by the General Assembly and awaiting the…

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April 16, 2024

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2024 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups

Catch up on all of the latest outcomes of the 2024 Maryland General Assembly session with wrap-ups on important county-related bills in each policy area. Maryland’s 446th legislative session convened amidst a substantial concern over the State’s fiscal situation, with weakened revenues and cost increases for many services at every level of government. Despite the budgetary limitations, many policy issues received a full debate, with many resolutions arising from the 90-day annual process. MACo’s legislative…

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April 12, 2024

County News / Finance and Procurement / MACo Testimony

2024 End of Session Wrap-Up: Finance

The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work on finance policy in the 2024 General Assembly. Maryland’s 446th legislative session convened amidst a substantial concern over the State’s fiscal situation, with weakened revenues and cost increases for many services at every level of government. Despite the budgetary limitations, many policy issues received a full debate, with many resolutions arising from the 90-day annual process. MACo’s legislative committee guided the association’s positions on hundreds…

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April 11, 2024

Finance and Procurement / MACo Testimony

2024 End of Session Wrap-Up: Procurement

The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work on procurement policy in the 2024 General Assembly session. County governments frequently must seek vendors or products needed to help deliver front-line services, and in many cases do so under the guidance of statewide laws that cover both State government and local subdivisions. MACo routinely seeks local flexibility and manageable compliance for areas subject to statewide procurement laws. Maryland's 446th legislative session convened amidst a…

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April 10, 2024

Finance and Procurement / News You Can Use

Anne Arundel Retains AAA Bond Rating from All Three Major Credit Agencies

Credit agencies continue to cite strong fiscal management and economic stability. County Executive Steuart Pittman announced that for only the second time in county history, Anne Arundel County received a triple-A rating from all three credit rating agencies: Fitch, Moody's, and Standard and Poor's (S&P). The ratings keep borrowing costs low for capital projects and reflect the County's sound fiscal policies, prudent long-range planning, and stable economic profile. "The ratings agencies confirmed what we already…

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April 2, 2024

County Budgets / County News / Education / Feature / Finance and Procurement / State Budget and Fiscal Issues

Second Supplemental Budget Increases State Funding for Schools

Governor Moore submitted a second supplemental budget with over $23 million more in State aid for education. Updated data should trigger a re-do of each county's local funding obligations for FY 2025. On March 26, Governor Wes Moore introduced Supplemental Budget No. 2, affecting the previously estimated funds available for State budget operations. Of consequence for county governments is more than $23 million in additional state funding for various aspects of public education, as detailed…

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March 26, 2024

County News / Economic Development / Finance and Procurement

Washington County Announces New Procurement Portal

The Washington County Purchasing Department has announced the upcoming launch of a new procurement portal to streamline the process of accepting and evaluating solicitations. Powered by Euna Solutions, the procurement portal will provide vendors with a user-friendly platform to submit bids and proposals for county projects and contracts. The portal will also serve as a comprehensive resource for vendors to access procurement opportunities, submit bids electronically, and track the status of their submissions. "We are excited…

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March 21, 2024

County News / Emergency Management / Finance and Procurement

Howard Relaunches Expanded Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program

This innovative grant program helps residents safeguard against flood damage in their homes and businesses. This week, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball relaunched the County's Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program. Initially launched in 2019, this grant program is available to property owners and businesses in high-risk flood zones across Howard County to assist with improvements to primary buildings or structural stream crossings and help remove debris from adjacent property stream channels. "We know that for…

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March 6, 2024

Bill Hearing / Education / Finance and Procurement / Health and Human Services / MACo Testimony / Transportation and Public Works

MACo BRFA Comments Highlight HUR, Community Colleges, Disparity Grants, Local Health

On February 28, 2024, Executive Director Michael Sanderson testified before the House Appropriations Committee to support HB 352- Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2024 with amendments. This bill is the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA), reconciling various provisions incorporated into the Administration's fiscal 2025 plan, bringing the proposed budget into balance for the year. During the lengthy hearing on the far-reaching bill (which affects numerous statutory changes needed to balance the State budget), Mr.…

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March 1, 2024

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