County governments, local leaders, residents, and other stakeholders have a chance to weigh in directly as Maryland considers the future of local revenue flexibility. The Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Structures will hold a virtual public hearing on September 14, with registration and written testimony due September 10.
The hearing comes as the Task Force examines whether Maryland’s local revenue structure still works for local governments. Counties face growing responsibilities and rising costs, but they have limited flexibility to raise the revenue needed to fund them.
As previously reported on Conduit Street, the Task Force’s recent meeting examined options to modernize Maryland’s local revenue structure and provide greater flexibility to counties and municipalities. The public hearing now gives local governments and the communities they serve a direct opportunity to help shape that discussion.
MACo has long advocated for greater local revenue flexibility. Maryland’s counties have different economies, tax bases, service demands, and fiscal pressures, and greater flexibility would allow local governments to choose the tools that best fit their communities rather than relying on a limited, one-size-fits-all revenue structure.
County leaders can use the hearing to explain how State mandates, rising service costs, and limited revenue authority affect local budgets. Residents, businesses, community organizations, and other stakeholders can also testify about how local governments fund the services their communities depend on.
How to Register and Testify
The virtual hearing begins at 12:30 pm on September 14, and testimony must address local government taxing authority or local government finances. The Task Force will accept both oral and written testimony.
Anyone who wants to testify or submit written comments must email April.Noren@mga.maryland.gov by September 10 at 5:00 pm. The email must include the person’s name, organization, and title, if applicable, along with any written testimony for public distribution.
Oral testimony is limited to two minutes. Registered witnesses will receive the Zoom link on September 11, must appear on camera while testifying, and must use an identifiable screen name that matches the name used to register.
Written testimony must be submitted in PDF format, with the name of the person or organization testifying included in the file name. Written testimony received by the deadline will be shared with Task Force members before the hearing.
The General Assembly will livestream the hearing and post the recording and submitted written testimony on the Task Force webpage afterward.
Click here for more information and complete public hearing procedures.
The Task Force will continue its work this fall, with meetings scheduled for October 2 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm, October 30 from 8:30 am to 10:00 am, and November 30 from 9:30 am to 11:00 am.
Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.
