A story from the Cumberland Times-News draws on AP coverage of MACo’s Winter Conference and input from Rural Counties Coalition President, and Allegany County Commissioner, Mike McKay to offer a snapshot of the Coalition’s update and positions for the upcoming legislative session.
From the article:
McKay emphasized cooperation between the Maryland Rural Counties Coalition and MACo.
“During the interim since the adjournment of the 2013 session of the Maryland General Assembly, the coalition was active in seeking a delay in the implementation of the phosphorous management tool regulations. We worked with MACo and other stakeholders in identifying areas of concern and seeking a delay for all participants to be fully involved in the development of fair and responsible regulations,” McKay told the assembly. The phosphorous regulations would have impacted rural agricultural operations and a delay sought on implementation of the regulations was successful. McKay went on to explain the 2014 legislative priorities of the rural group.
“The Maryland Rural Counties Coalition believes additional time is needed to develop comprehensive and fair policies under the Accounting for Growth Regulations and requests a delay in the implementation,” McKay said. The growth regulations are designed to protect the Chesapeake Bay. Working to make changes in the phosphorous regulations during the delay in implementation was the second coalition goal, McKay said.
“The coalition joins with the Maryland Association of Counties to restore the counties’ highway user revenues” McKay said. Those funds have dropped to the tune of millions for Allegany County alone over the past few years.