As reported in the Cumberland Times-News, the Maryland General Assembly saved some of the best for last, from Western Maryland’s standpoint, by passing several bills with an effect on that region late in the session.

A few of the bills passed in the final days include:

• Bond bill money for the Allegany County Animal Shelter Management Foundation, Friends Aware, Christian Crossings Thrift Shop and HART for Animals. Each organization will receive $100,000.
• School funding to help school districts facing decreases in state aid because of declining student enrollment, such as Garrett County. Allegany County has faced a similar problem in the past.
• A downtown tax credit bill designed to help attract developers and support building owners hoping to make the upper stories of downtown buildings more attractive.

For more information, see Best for last – Legislative action will have positive local impact from the Cumberland Times-News and our previous post on Conduit Street, House Narrows “Half Harmless” Education Funding Bill To Small Counties.