Conduit Street Podcast: Blueprint Ballyhoo, Sizing Up Services, and Tricky Tech
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February 21, 2020
Budget Analysts: Reject Proposal to Permanently Cut Community College Funding
The Department of Legislative Services (DLS), in its budget analysis of Aid to Community Colleges, is recommending that the General Assembly reject a proposal in HB 152, the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2020 (“BRFA”), to permanently cut funding for community colleges. State funding of Maryland’s community colleges is based on the Senator John R. Cade funding formula which was established as law in 1996. The Cade funding formula was created to provide community…
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February 19, 2020
Montgomery Unveils Community Opioid Prevention Trailer
The Montgomery County Police Department last week unveiled the Community Opioid Prevention Education (COPE) Trailer. The exhibit, which will travel to community events across the County, can help loved ones identify red flags typically associated with substance abuse. The inside of the trailer is built to resemble a typical bedroom and bathroom, and inside are items considered minor (yellow) and major (red) indicators that an individual may have a problem with opioids or other controlled…
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February 18, 2020
Baltimore County Forms Workgroup to Improve Code Enforcement
Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski today announced the formation of a Code Enforcement Improvement Work Group to engage in a stakeholder-driven process to identify improvements to the County’s code enforcement program in order to better serve County residents. “Baltimore County code enforcement has immense potential to significantly improve resident’s day-to-day quality of life,” Olszewski said. “Over the course of my first year in office, residents have consistently told us that they want to see more…
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February 18, 2020
Woodrow W. “Jerry” Jones III
Hogan Appoints MDTA Police Chief as Superintendent of Maryland State Police
Governor Larry Hogan today announced Maryland Transportation Authority Chief of Police Woodrow W. “Jerry” Jones III as his appointee for superintendent of the Maryland State Police. Colonel Jones will succeed Colonel William M. Pallozzi, who is retiring after more than 30 years of service with the Maryland State Police. “With a distinguished career in law enforcement spanning more than three decades, Colonel Jones has both the experience and the character to lead what I believe…
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February 18, 2020
General Assembly to Consider Bill to Tax Certain Business Services
The General Assembly will consider a bill to levy the general sales and use tax on certain business services. Services in Maryland are generally not taxable. Every state that has a sales tax also has a use tax on the purchase of goods and services as defined by law. State sales taxes apply to purchases made in Maryland while the use tax refers to the tax on goods purchased out of state. Sales and use…
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February 18, 2020
Photo courtesy of Frederick County Government
Frederick Unveils Initiatives to Protect Forest Cover, Environmental, Historic Resources
Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner last week unveiled two initiatives to protect Frederick County’s forests, environmental resources, and historic and cultural assets. The first legislative initiative strengthens the County’s Forest Resource Ordinance with the goal to protect existing forests and ensure no net loss of forest as the result of new development. The second legislative proposal amends the county zoning ordinance to require consideration and protection of the forest, environmentally sensitive areas, and historic assets…
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February 17, 2020
Senator Cardin Sponsors Legislation to Allow Retirement Match on Student Loan Repayments
Maryland senior U.S. Senator, Ben Cardin, is sponsoring bipartisan legislation to allow employer-sponsored 401(k), 403(b) and SIMPLE retirement plans to make matching contributions for an employee's student loan payments as if the loan payments were salary reduction contributions to the retirement plan. The Retirement Security & Savings Act (S. 1431), sponsored by U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Rob Portman, includes a broad set of reforms designed to strengthen Americans’ retirement security. One such reform aims…
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February 14, 2020
County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Education / General Assembly News / News You Can Use / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Conduit Street Podcast: Kirwan Blueprint Bill and Tidbits Around Town
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February 14, 2020
County News / Economic Development / Information Technology / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use
Help Is on the Way for Broadband Data
Congress is poised to pass sweeping legislation to address the inaccuracies of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) national broadband coverage data. The House and Senate recently passed the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act (S. 822/H.R. 4229). The bipartisan legislation requires wired, fixed wireless, and satellite broadband providers to collect more service availability data and directs the FCC to develop a system for state and local governments to report verified coverage data. Lawmakers…
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February 12, 2020