Devin Neil, Author at Conduit Street

MACo: Don’t Divert County Funds to Nonpublic Schools

On March 3, MACo Policy Associate Drew Jabin submitted testimony to the House Appropriations Committee in opposition to HB 1056 - Nonpublic Schools - Adequate Health Services - Eligibility for Reimbursement. This bill requires county governments to reimburse up to 50% of the costs that nonpublic schools incur providing adequate health services. From the MACo Testimony: This bill would extend those responsibilities, unfairly diverting local government funding to reimburse up to 50% of the costs…

Comments Off

March 3, 2021

Bill Hearing / Coronavirus / County News / MACo Testimony / Taxes and Revenues

Counties Request Local Flexibility for Property Tax Credits

MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally today testified in opposition to HB 1175 Property Tax Credit for Disabled Veterans before the House Ways and Means Committee. This bill would mandate that counties grant, by law, a prescriptive property tax credit for specified disabled veterans and surviving spouses. According to the bill's fiscal note, local property tax revenues could decrease by approximately $43.2 million annually beginning in fiscal 2022. MACo is concerned with the carryover county fiscal…

Comments Off

March 2, 2021

Bill Hearing / County News / MACo Testimony / Taxes and Revenues / Transportation and Public Works

MACo: Planes, Trains, and Property Tax Credits

MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally today testified in support of HB 1180 Property Tax Credit - Airport Noise Zones - Eligibility with amendments before the House Ways and Means Committee. This bill expands the authority of local governments to grant a property tax credit for properties adjacent to the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) noise zone. While counties appreciate the bill's flexibility, MACo requested an amendment to clarify that any expansion of an existing airport…

Comments Off

March 2, 2021

Bill Hearing / Coronavirus / County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / MACo Testimony

Extra Sick Leave Hurts Government Response To COVID-19

On March 2, MACo Policy Associate Drew Jabin testified before the Economic Matters Committee in opposition to HB 1326 - Maryland Healthy Working Families Act - Revisions and Public Health Emergency Leave. This bill would place significant costs on local jurisdictions as a result of paying for additional leave required during a public health emergency. From the MACo Testimony: Under state law, counties would have no choice but to fund these mandated changes to the…

Comments Off

March 2, 2021

Bill Hearing / Coronavirus / County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / MACo Testimony

Counties Request Flexibility for Unemployment Insurance Payments During COVID-19

On March 2, 2021 MACo Policy Associate Drew Jabin submitted testimony to the Senate Finance Committee to support SB 790 - Unemployment Insurance - Reimbursing Employers Deferral of Payment During a State of Emergency for COVID-19. This bill would provides a tool for county governments, as reimbursable employers, to delay their remittances by a year during a COVID-19 state of emergency. From the MACo Testimony: Under current law, a nonprofit organization or governmental entity is…

Comments Off

March 2, 2021

Bill Hearing / County News / Information Technology / MACo Testimony

Counties Support Local Cybersecurity Training, Oppose State Mandated Training

On March 2, MACo Policy Associate Drew Jabin submitted testimony in opposition to SB 873 - Department of Information Technology - State and Local Government Employees and Contractors - Cybersecurity Training. This bill would place a detailed mandate on county governments to carry out new state policy and implement State-mandated cybersecurity training programs. From the MACo Testimony: County governments are established and complex employers and entities – and are not truly in need of the…

Comments Off

March 2, 2021

Bill Hearing / Coronavirus / County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / MACo Testimony

Workers Compensation Claims for COVID-19 Costly for Counties

On March 2, MACo Policy Associate Drew Jabin testified before the Economic Matters Committee in opposition to both HB 1199 - Workers' Compensation - Occupational Disease Presumptions - COVID-19 and HB 1247 - Workers' Compensation - Occupational Disease Presumptions - COVID-19. These bills would dramatically expand the scope of presumption for workers’ compensation claims, therefore placing significant costs on local jurisdictions. From the MACo testimony on HB 1199: HB 1199 would add COVID-19 as a…

Comments Off

March 2, 2021

Bill Hearing / Coronavirus / County News / MACo Testimony / Taxes and Revenues

MACo: Costly Tax Incentive Lacks Local Input

MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally today submitted testimony to the House Ways and Means Committee in opposition to HB 1052 Income- Tax - Subtraction Modification - Trade of Business Enterprise Expenses Resulting in Federal Loan Forgiveness. MACo opposes state-mandated reductions in local revenue sources, but welcomes tools to grant counties options and flexibility to pursue their own parallel tax incentives, or to develop others to suit their local needs. From the MACo Testimony: The swift…

Comments Off

February 26, 2021

Bill Hearing / County News / Environment / Finance and Procurement / MACo Testimony

MACo Supports Novel Approach to Address Septic System Pollution

MACo Executive Director Michael Sanderson yesterday testified in support of HB 878 Bay Restoration Fund - County Authority to Incur Indebtedness before the House Ways and Means Committee. This bill provides counties with an optional and flexible tool to make grants and loans to address septic system pollution. From the MACo Testimony: HB 878 authorizes a county to borrow money and incur indebtedness through the issuance and sale of notes in anticipation of the receipt of…

Comments Off

February 26, 2021

Bill Hearing / County News / Economic Development / MACo Testimony / Taxes and Revenues

Counties Urge Caution Over Proposal to Alter RISE Zone Program

MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally today submitted testimony to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee to support SB 778 Regional Institution Strategic Enterprise Zone Program - Alterations with amendments. While this bill generally expands the purpose of the Regional Institution Strategic Enterprise (RISE) Zone program, it also repeals the program by 2028. County governments believe the tax incentives offered by this program are extremely effective and urge the Committee to keep them intact. From the…

Comments Off

February 25, 2021