Conduit Street Podcast — Winter’s Coming: Preparedness and Policy for Post-COVID Flu Season
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September 29, 2023
County Budgets / County News / Feature / NACo and Federal Issues / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
State Revenue Forecast Largely Unchanged: Inflation, Looming Shutdown Elevate Risk
This week, the Board of Revenue Estimates adopted a revised estimate for fiscal 2024 – a minor write-down of $14.1 million – and the first official estimate for fiscal 2025. The Board forecasts total general fund revenues of $24.566 billion in fiscal 2024, an increase of 3.8 percent over the prior year, and $25.081 billion in fiscal 2025, an increase of 2.1 percent over fiscal 2024. On an ongoing basis, taking out one-time distributions and…
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September 29, 2023
NACo Recognizes National Preparedness Month
The National Association of Counties (NACo) recognizes September as National Preparedness Month, an opportunity to highlight the role of counties in preparing for and responding to disasters. “At FEMA, we understand that all disasters are local, and the work of NACo is integral in helping communities nationwide prepare before disasters strike,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “I am encouraged by the work counties large and small are doing to prepare their communities this National Preparedness…
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September 28, 2023
This Week: State to Unveil Latest Revenue Estimates
The Board of Revenue Estimates will meet Thursday afternoon to vote on the revised general fund revenue estimates for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The forecasts for the current fiscal year and the one that begins in July 2024 will provide budget writers and policymakers with the latest revenue projections and economic trends. The three-member panel, which includes Comptroller Brooke Lierman, State Treasurer Dereck Davis, and Secretary of Budget and Management Helene Grady, is responsible…
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September 27, 2023
Interest Rates Hold Steady as Fed Takes “Wait-And-See” Approach
Last week, the Federal Reserve left the primary US interest rate unchanged, waiting to see if its historic series of rate hikes gets inflation under control. The Fed had raised interest rates at a torrid pace in the last 18 months, as it increased its benchmark rate at 11 consecutive meetings from March last year until its meeting in July. Citing an easing of economic conditions while acknowledging that inflation is still higher than its…
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September 26, 2023
Queen Anne’s Commissioners Answer Questions About New Program to Ease Beach Traffic Gridlock
The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA), in cooperation with Queen Anne's County, is in the middle of the US 50/301 (Blue Star Memorial Highway) ramp management pilot project on the Eastern Shore to encourage drivers heading westbound to the Bay Bridge to stay on US 50/301 and keep MD 18 (Main Street) open for emergency responders and residents. When Route 50 backs up, impatient motorists spill onto local roads. The ensuing traffic gridlock severely hinders…
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September 26, 2023
County Budgets / Finance and Procurement / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
Moody’s: Government Shutdown Would Jeopardize US Credit Rating, Hurt Maryland Economy
As previously reported on Conduit Street, the US government is barreling toward yet another government shutdown as Congress struggles to reach a consensus on a series of appropriations bills that fund government operations before the start of the new fiscal year on October 1. Moody's, a leading credit agency, warns that a possible federal government shutdown this week could tarnish the country's credit rating and that the economic effects of a shutdown would be most…
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September 26, 2023
County News / Courts / Elections / Feature / Government Liability and Courts / Health and Human Services / News You Can Use
Conduit Street Podcast: Election Law and Policy with Walter Olson
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September 22, 2023
County Budgets / County News / Feature / NACo and Federal Issues / Policy Deep Dive / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Decoding the Looming Federal Government Shutdown & Its Impact on Maryland
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. A new article is added each week – read all of MACo's Policy Deep Dives. The US government is approaching yet another possible shutdown as Congress struggles to reach a consensus on a series of appropriations bills that fund government operations before the start of the new fiscal year on…
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September 21, 2023
Maryland Delegation Announces Nearly $1M to Safeguard Free COVID Vaccinations for Uninsured, Underinsured
US Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone, and Glenn Ivey announced $934,965 in US Department of Health funding for Maryland health centers to provide no-cost COVID-19 vaccines. “The pandemic exposed many gaps and shortfalls in vaccine accessibility, especially for the millions of Americans who are under or uninsured,” said the lawmakers.“As COVID-19 cases start to rise again this fall,…
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September 20, 2023