Read more about the article Understanding Maryland’s State Property Tax and Why It Matters to Counties
School Construction and Capital Budgets
Understanding Maryland’s State Property Tax and Why It Matters to Counties

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. When Maryland property owners receive their annual tax bill, they pay more than just their local county or municipal property taxes. They also pay a statewide property tax, a feature that sets Maryland apart from many other states. While local governments rely on property taxes to fund essential services such…

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June 17, 2026
Read more about the article Kent County Commissioners Approve Letter of Intent for Construction of New Middle School
County Budgets / School Construction and Capital Budgets
Kent County Commissioners Approve Letter of Intent for Construction of New Middle School

On Tuesday, the Kent County Board of Commissioners approved a letter of intent for the construction of a new Kent County Middle School.  During a June 9, 2026 meeting of the Kent County Board of Commissioners, local leaders voted to provide a conditional letter of intent for the construction of a new Kent County Middle School. The letter does not obligate the county to fund the project but gets the discovery process underway at the…

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June 11, 2026
Read more about the article Worcester County Budget Maintains Tax Rates, Boosts School, and Public Safety Funding
County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Education / Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development / Public Safety and Corrections / School Construction and Capital Budgets / Taxes and Revenues
Worcester County Budget Maintains Tax Rates, Boosts School, and Public Safety Funding

Worcester County has approved its Fiscal Year 2027 operating budget, maintaining both its property tax and local income tax rates while increasing investments in education, public safety, employee compensation, and county reserves. The approved $300.2 million spending plan keeps the County's property tax rate at 81.5 cents per $100 of assessed value and maintains its local income tax rate at 2.25%, which County officials note remains among the lowest in Maryland. County leaders described the…

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June 4, 2026
Read more about the article State Sells $800M in Bonds for Schools and Infrastructure
Finance and Procurement / School Construction and Capital Budgets
State Sells $800M in Bonds for Schools and Infrastructure

Just days after receiving AAA ratings from Fitch, S&P, and KBRA, Maryland completed an $800 million general obligation bond sale, securing favorable borrowing rates for future capital projects. The Board of Public Works approved the sale on Wednesday as part of the State and Local Facilities Loan of 2026. The bonds will help finance school construction, higher ed facilities, environmental projects, public safety improvements, and other infrastructure investments across Maryland. The sale attracted seven bids…

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June 4, 2026
Read more about the article State Agency Approves FY27 School Construction Funding, Shortfalls Still Loom
School Construction and Capital Budgets
State Agency Approves FY27 School Construction Funding, Shortfalls Still Loom

State school construction board reports local shares of annual funding are $1.25B to the state share of $430M. Concern continues amongst IAC board members that state contributions are not keeping pace with need.  During a regularly scheduled meeting of the Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC) Executive Director Alex Donahue shared insights on the FY27 state capital budget and sat for questions from board members. Donahue's remarks included a description of the financial needs statewide in…

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May 14, 2026
Read more about the article Anne Arundel Maintains Triple-A Bond Rating
County News / Economic Development / Public Safety and Corrections / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Anne Arundel Maintains Triple-A Bond Rating

Anne Arundel County has once again earned a Triple-A bond rating from all three major credit rating agencies, marking the fourth consecutive year the county has received the highest possible designation. The ratings were reaffirmed by Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Ratings, and S&P Global Ratings, placing Anne Arundel among a small group of counties nationwide (roughly 1.5%) to hold top-tier ratings across all three agencies. From the press release: “Since the beginning of my administration, we…

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April 23, 2026
Read more about the article Baltimore County Unveils $5B Budget Focused on Public Safety, Schools, and Affordability
County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Education / Public Safety and Corrections / School Construction and Capital Budgets / Taxes and Revenues
Baltimore County Unveils $5B Budget Focused on Public Safety, Schools, and Affordability

Baltimore County has released its proposed $5 billion Fiscal Year 2027 budget, outlining a spending plan centered on public safety, education, infrastructure, and cost-of-living pressures, all without raising taxes. The proposal reflects an effort to balance continued investment in core services with maintaining the county’s strong financial standing, including its Triple-A bond rating. Core Priorities: The FY2027 proposal directs funding toward several areas that residents are most likely to see directly, including: public safety and…

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April 21, 2026
Read more about the article 2026 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups
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2026 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups

Catch up on all of the latest outcomes of the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session with wrap-ups on important county-related bills in each policy area. Maryland’s 448th legislative session unfolded under significant fiscal pressure. Lawmakers closed the fiscal 2027 gap, preserved reserves, and fully funded principal commitments, such as the Blueprint, but did not resolve the larger structural deficits projected for the years ahead. That budget pressure shaped debates across nearly every policy area, from…

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April 17, 2026
Read more about the article 2026 End of Session Wrap-Up: School and Capital Facilities
MACo Testimony / School Construction and Capital Budgets
2026 End of Session Wrap-Up: School and Capital Facilities

The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work on school and capital facilities policy in the 2026 General Assembly session. Counties are key partners in delivering and maintaining modern, safe, and well-equipped school facilities, which are essential to student success. Through shared funding responsibilities with the State, county governments invest heavily in school construction and renovation, often making up a significant portion of local capital budgets. Through its advocacy, MACo works to ensure…

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April 14, 2026
Read more about the article State Takes Increased Share of School Construction Costs via Regulation Change
County Budgets / Education / School Construction and Capital Budgets
State Takes Increased Share of School Construction Costs via Regulation Change

In a meeting last Thursday, the Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC) adopted new regulations, effectively increasing the state share of costs for qualifying school construction projects in nine of the most resource scarce counties.  During a regularly scheduled meeting of the IAC, Executive Director Alex Donahue proposed a change in the existing regulations that set forth the state-local cost share for qualifying school construction projects in smaller jurisdictions with limited tax capacity. The proposed…

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March 16, 2026
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