On Thursday, MACo Legislative Committee members and staff briefed the Ways and Means Committee on priorities for the 2018 session.

Talbot County Council Member Laura Price discussed the importance of funding local infrastructure and the effects highway user revenue cuts have had on her county.

MACo Legislative Committee and Education Subcommittee Chair Craig Rice, Montgomery County Council Member, was greeted warmly as a former member of the committee. He discussed strong and smart school construction funding and his work and thoughts from representing MACo on the Kirwan Commission.

MACo Associate Director Barbara Zektick discussed the problems with the Governor’s proposals to shift costs of the State Department of Assessments and Taxation onto the counties. MACo Executive Director rounded out the presentation by discussing tax reform effects.

At the end of the hearing, Vice Chair Frank Turner indicated sympathy for counties for enduring highway user revenue cuts for as long as they have. He indicated that something should be done to restore the revenues to local governments.