This article is part of MACo’s Policy Deep Dive series, where expert policy analysts explore and explain the top county policy issues of the day. A new article is added each week – read all of MACo’s Policy Deep Dives. 

Climate change has emerged as one of the foremost challenges for policymakers. While Washington and Annapolis may set the agenda, implementation is often left to the counties. Consequently, counties possess a unique vantage point on the transition of policy into practice. In this week’s deep dive, we explore three weird ways climate change is impacting county governments.

Revenue

A core function of government is ensuring it has enough resources to provide public services. For counties, this means securing sufficient revenue (i.e., taxes, grants, etc.) to fund things like health, infrastructure, and safety programs. Zooming in on public works, most state and county transportation funds come from highway user revenues (HURs), which are generated from the state’s gasoline tax and distributed between the state, counties, and municipalities.

Unfortunately for transportation officials, HURs have been declining as fuel efficiency improves and electric vehicle use rises. Policy decisions primarily at the state level are further driving toward a future with minimal to no gasoline sales. To address this, the General Assembly created the Maryland Commission on Transportation Revenue and Infrastructure Needs (TRAIN Commission) to explore new sustainable funding models for transportation.

The TRAIN Commission’s final report is due in January 2025, but its 2024 interim report provides significant insights,

“…because of increasing fuel efficiency and the dramatic shift toward electric vehicles (EVs), Maryland may have reached its peak of revenue from the motor fuel tax. . . .

…the commission had a discussion related to collecting an additional fee on EVs and hybrid vehicles to generate funding to supplant lost revenue to the TTF from the motor fuel tax because drivers of EV and hybrid vehicles use the roads but contribute little or nothing in gas tax for the TTF. . . . 33 states have enacted an EV registration fee, and 11 states have proposed an EV registration fee. The average EV fee is $128 while the average hybrid vehicle fee is $63.”

Infrastructure

The best metaphor for infrastructure is to imagine the connective tissue that allows a community to function. It includes everything from pipes to roads and bridges and public services like waste and recycling. It forms both the foundation on which we build and the connections on which we operate, all of which are vulnerable to climate change.

Maryland is particularly shaped by its coastline, which, while driving cultural and economic development, also poses serious hazards due to rising sea levels. A recent report highlighted that tens of critical public works (i.e., wastewater treatment plants, public health facilities, contaminated former industrial sites, affordable housing, etc.) in Maryland are at risk of being underwater or otherwise negatively impacted.

Additionally, most roads and highways, crucial for connection, are not equipped to handle the increased weight of an all-electric vehicle (EV) world. EVs are significantly heavier than internal combustion engine vehicles, causing more wear on roads, testing the limits of older parking garages, and complicating traffic safety.

Land Use

One of the primary roles of counties is to represent the will of residents in shaping the character of their community. This authority is both powerful and often controversial. Increasingly local land use authority has faced various challenges in the name of climate change. Notable examples include state policies promoting renewable energy development (many of which insufficiently address community concerns) and several attempts to override local development processes in some coastal regions.

While MACo continues to work with the administration and other stakeholders to balance state and county concerns, land use authority will likely remain a significant point of contention due to its expansive scope and impact.

Looking Ahead

Climate change is quickly developing into one of the preeminent challenges of our time. County leaders are, by design, at the forefront of adaptation, mitigation, and response. While the highlighted policy areas are not exclusive to those impacted by climate change, they provide a representative sampling of the scale of the issues facing elected leaders well into the foreseeable future.