Brianna January, Author at Conduit Street

Updates on Paid Leave Regulations and FAMLI Implementation

The FAMLI Division updated stakeholders on implementation, timing, and 2024 legislative issues. The FAMLI Division of the Maryland Department of Labor hosted a stakeholder updates call on January 16, 2024. MACo has participated in the regulatory and legislative processes on behalf of Maryland counties as major employers in the state and attended the January 16 briefing. A primary topic of the January 16 meeting was the regulatory process and where the draft regulations stand. According…

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January 16, 2024

Education / Energy / Environment / School Construction and Capital Budgets

Don’t Miss this Jan 18 Webinar on Funding Opportunities for Decarbonizing Public Schools

Join The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), in partnership with the Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC), for a webinar on the Funding Opportunity Announcement for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Decarbonizing Public Schools Program to help Local Education Agencies (LEAs) develop capacity and advance strategies for promoting clean and efficient energy use within their portfolio of current and future K-12 schools and support facilities. Program Purpose: The overall intent of the Decarbonizing Public Schools Program is…

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January 12, 2024

Board of Public Works / Economic Development / Parks and Recreation / School Construction and Capital Budgets

Board of Public Works: Jan 17 Meeting Agenda

The Board of Public Works — a three-member panel including Governor Wes Moore, Comptroller Brooke Lierman, and State Treasurer Dereck Davis — reviews projects, contracts, and expenditure plans for state agencies, many of which affect county governments. The State Board of Public Works (BPW) typically convenes on alternating Wednesdays in the Governor’s Reception Room on the 2nd floor of the State House in Annapolis, and meetings are open to the public. They are also live-streamed on…

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January 11, 2024

Business Affairs / County News / Economic Development / Feature / News You Can Use

Frederick Businesses Indicate Satisfaction with County Support, Resources

Results of the most recent Frederick County businesses sentiment survey show optimism, concerns, and needs for economic development. Frederick County businesses shared their optimism, concerns, and needs on their economic outlook in a recent survey conducted for the Frederick County Office of Economic Development by Salisbury University’s Business Economic and Community Outreach Network (BEACON). The November 2023 results showed an overall positive sentiment that Frederick County is a good place to operate a business. Respondents…

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January 9, 2024

Education / Feature / Intergovernmental Relations / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues

Local School Boards’ 2024 Legislative Priorities Focus on Funding

The Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE) has dedicated its 2024 legislative priorities to issues dealing with school funding and financial well-being. For the 2024 legislative session, which starts January 10, local boards of education are heavily prioritizing school funding and financial stability. According to its 2024 legislative playbook, the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE) will focus on the following priorities during the upcoming legislative session: • Support for governance authority for…

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January 9, 2024

County Budgets / County News / Education / Feature / Intergovernmental Relations / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Transportation and Public Works

Olszewski Forecasts Economic “Perfect Storm” Heading into Legislative Session

Baltimore County Executive Olszewski: "You put all of that together and it’s going to be a much more challenging budget cycle for us. It really is in some ways the perfect storm of presenting some challenges.” In a recent interview with WYPR, Baltimore County Executive and 2024 MACo President Johnny Olszewski outlined concerns with local and state budgets amidst what he calls a coming "perfect storm" of economic woes ahead of the 2024 legislative session,…

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January 8, 2024

Education / Higher Education

Community Colleges Set 2024 Legislative Agenda

The Maryland Association of Community Colleges seeks updates to the Cade Formula, tuition waivers, capital project funding, and more. Counties are proud supporters of Maryland's community colleges, which continue to serve a greater role post-pandemic and as the State deepens implementation of The Blueprint for Maryland's Future ("The Blueprint"). For the 2024 legislative session, the Maryland Association of Community Colleges (MDACC) is seeking revised financial support from the State, help with capital projects, and updates…

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January 8, 2024

County Government and Structure / County News / Feature

Izzy Patoka to Chair Baltimore County Council for 2024

Councilman Izzy Patoka was unanimously elected chairman of the Baltimore County Council at its January 2 meeting. Councilman Israel “Izzy” Patoka will serve as chair of the Baltimore County Council for the 2024 calendar year. Six members of the Council (one was not present) voted unanimously for Patoka to succeed the outgoing chair, Julian Jones, at a January 2 meeting. The Baltimore County Council chairmanship is a one-year position and is typically rotated among members…

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January 4, 2024

Board of Public Works / Economic Development / Parks and Recreation / School Construction and Capital Budgets

Jan 3 Board of Public Works Meeting: Here’s What Counties Need to Know

The Board of Public Works (BPW) — a three-member panel including Governor Wes Moore, Comptroller Brooke Lierman, and State Treasurer Dereck Davis — reviews projects, contracts, and expenditure plans for state agencies, many of which affect county governments. The BPW considered and approved the following requests and recommendations at its meeting on January 3, 2024: Allegany County A request from the Maryland Department of the Environment for new grant funding up to $981,313 to the…

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January 3, 2024

Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Labor

Trends in Employee Benefits to Consider in 2024

From flexible spending accounts to debt management services, here are some trending employee benefits counties might want to consider in 2024. Like much of the public sector, local governments continue to struggle to hire and retain post-pandemic. One way public sector employees are seeing progress in staffing is by offering unique and competitive benefits for the modern workforce. Post-COVID-19 -- and with the rise of younger generations in the workplace -- employees are increasingly seeking…

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January 3, 2024