The Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Structures will meet again on August 31 as members continue examining Maryland’s local revenue structure and the fiscal pressures facing local governments.
The Task Force will meet virtually on Monday, August 31, at 10:30 am. Members will receive an agenda and additional information ahead of the meeting.
As previously reported on Conduit Street, the Task Force held its first meeting on July 31. The Department of Legislative Services reviewed local government finances, while MACo and the Maryland Municipal League outlined how Maryland’s current revenue structure affects local budget decisions.
The first meeting highlighted the significant role counties play in delivering local services. County-level entities accounted for 95.5% of all local government spending in fiscal 2024, including funding for public schools, public safety, roads, public health, elections, emergency services, and other core services.
Members also examined the limited revenue options available to counties. 84% of Marylanders live in a county with a flat or top local income tax rate of at least 3.20%, leaving little room under the 3.30% cap and placing greater pressure on property taxes as costs rise.
Rather than weighing specific revenue proposals, members used the first meeting to identify additional information they want to review. They requested historical county property tax rates, information on whether Maryland can produce reliable county-level sales tax data, and additional details on State decisions that continue to affect local budgets, including Highway User Revenue cuts and teacher pension cost shifts.
Comptroller Brooke Lierman chairs the Task Force. Howard County Council Member Christiana Rigby and Montgomery County Chief Administrative Officer Rich Madaleno represent MACo, while Baltimore City Chief Administrative Officer Faith Leach represents Baltimore City.
The Task Force will continue meeting through the fall and must submit its findings and recommendations by December 1, 2026.
Stay tuned to Conduit Street for additional coverage.
