Maryland’s Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Structures will meet again on Friday, October 2, as members continue weighing new local revenue options and prepare recommendations ahead of the 2027 legislative session.
The virtual meeting begins at 1:00 pm, and will stream live on the Maryland General Assembly website. The agenda includes presentations on school construction, county revenue structures nationwide, several potential local revenue options, and current local tax rates.
The Interagency Commission on School Construction will open with a presentation from Executive Director Alex Donahue. The discussion comes as counties continue to manage significant school construction needs alongside rising operating costs and other fiscal pressures.
The National Association of Counties will then provide a national overview of county revenue structures, showing members how other states approach local taxing authority.
The Department of Legislative Services will follow with a closer look at several revenue options, including a retail delivery fee, food and beverage tax, municipal hotel tax, and property tax. DLS will also provide an overview of current local tax rates before the Task Force discusses testimony from its September public hearing.
The General Assembly created the Task Force through HB 1142 during the 2026 legislative session. The panel must study and evaluate county and municipal revenue structures and submit recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by December 1.
Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman chairs the Task Force. MACo representatives Christiana Rigby, Council Member for Howard County, and Rich Madaleno, Chief Administrative Officer for Montgomery County, serve on the panel.
The October meeting builds on several months of work around local revenue flexibility.
As previously reported on Conduit Street, the Task Force’s August meeting examined existing local taxing authority, property tax options, and other approaches that could give counties and municipalities more flexibility. MACo has emphasized that new local revenue tools should expand county options, not shift costs or replace existing support.
County leaders reinforced that message during the Task Force’s September 14 public hearing, calling for broader revenue authority that reflects the different tax bases, service demands, and fiscal pressures across Maryland.
The Task Force has additional meetings scheduled for October 30 and November 30 before its December 1 reporting deadline.
Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.
Useful Links
Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Structures
HB 1142 – Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Structures
Previous Conduit Street Coverage
County Leaders Push for Revenue Flexibility, Guard Against Cost Shifts
Revenue Task Force Weighs Options for Modernizing Local Revenues
