Read more about the article Revenue Growth Continues Despite Growing Economic Questions
County Budgets / County News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Revenue Growth Continues Despite Growing Economic Questions

County budget officials reviewed another strong round of revenue data this week, but much of the conversation centered on a growing concern: the numbers no longer align cleanly with Maryland’s broader economic picture. The latest quarterly distribution showed withholding collections growing just under 4%, estimated payments rising roughly 12%, and overall county distributions increasing by 7.6%. Much of that local growth stems from a temporary increase in the percentage of personal income tax revenue allocated…

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May 28, 2026
Read more about the article Replacement Ballot Mailing Process Moves Ahead of Schedule
County News / Elections
Replacement Ballot Mailing Process Moves Ahead of Schedule

State election officials moved replacement ballots out faster than originally expected this week as the State shifts from correcting the mail-in ballot issue to preparing for the processing and canvassing of returned ballots. The Maryland State Board of Elections announced that affected voters across Maryland should receive replacement ballots earlier than the vendor's previously announced May 29 mailing timeline. Earlier this week, election officials mailed replacement ballots to voters in Anne Arundel, Cecil, Charles, Frederick,…

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May 27, 2026
Read more about the article New Report Confirms What Counties Already Know: The Next Infrastructure Problem Is Already Here
County Budgets / News You Can Use / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Transportation and Public Works
New Report Confirms What Counties Already Know: The Next Infrastructure Problem Is Already Here

A new national report suggests local governments may face another long-term fiscal challenge that rarely appears in budget headlines: the growing cost of replacing aging public assets already in service. A recent analysis from Merritt Research Services estimates that US cities carry more than $1 trillion in infrastructure and capital asset obligations tied to aging roads, buildings, equipment, and other public assets. The report attempts to measure the replacement cost of assets that continue operating…

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May 26, 2026
Read more about the article State Retains AAA Rating as S&P Lowers Outlook to Negative
Finance and Procurement / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
State Retains AAA Rating as S&P Lowers Outlook to Negative

Maryland’s latest credit reviews preserved the State’s top-tier rating but also raised new concerns about long-term fiscal pressures and future budget sustainability. Maryland retained its top-tier credit standing this week as Fitch Ratings affirmed the State’s AAA issuer and general obligation bond ratings and assigned a AAA rating to $800 million in new GO bonds. At the same time, S&P Global Ratings also assigned a AAA rating to Maryland’s new 2026 GO bonds and affirmed…

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May 26, 2026
Read more about the article County Executive Giordano’s Budget Expands School, Public Safety Funding
County Budgets / County News
County Executive Giordano’s Budget Expands School, Public Safety Funding

Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano has proposed a fiscal 2027 operating and capital budget that lowers local tax rates while increasing funding for schools, public safety, employee compensation, and county capital projects. The proposed operating budget totals approximately $237.3 million, an increase of roughly $21.3 million, or 9.8%, over the fiscal 2026 adopted budget. The County Executive's budget also uses approximately $33.4 million in prior-year revenue and fund balance for one-time costs, including more than…

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May 21, 2026
Read more about the article Cecil Proposed Budget Cuts Tax Rates, Expands School Funding, Public Safety Investments
County Budgets / County News
Cecil Proposed Budget Cuts Tax Rates, Expands School Funding, Public Safety Investments

Cecil County’s proposed fiscal 2027 budget combines tax relief, workforce investments, and significant capital projects while continuing support for education, public safety, and infrastructure priorities. County Executive Adam Streight described the plan as a balanced approach focused on financial stability and long-term growth. The proposed budget lowers several local tax rates while increasing funding in several core areas. The plan reduces the property tax rate from $0.9824 to $0.9724 per $100 of assessed value, lowers…

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May 21, 2026
Read more about the article Mail-In Ballot Questions: What Is the County Government’s Role?
Elections / Feature
Mail-In Ballot Questions: What Is the County Government’s Role?

Thousands of Maryland voters who requested mail-in ballots for the June 23 gubernatorial primary will receive replacement ballots after the Maryland State Board of Elections identified a vendor printing error that led some voters to receive the wrong party ballot. Because election officials could not determine with certainty which voters received correct ballots and which did not, the State Board decided to issue replacement ballots to everyone who received mailed ballots during the affected period.…

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May 19, 2026
Read more about the article MD Authorizes Cash Transaction Rounding Amid Penny Shortage
Business Affairs / County News / Finance and Procurement / News You Can Use
MD Authorizes Cash Transaction Rounding Amid Penny Shortage

Maryland businesses can now round specified cash transactions to the nearest five cents following legislation responding to the growing national penny shortage. The change follows the US Treasury’s November 2025 decision to stop producing new pennies for circulation, creating increasing difficulty for businesses trying to provide exact change during cash transactions. While pennies remain legal tender and continue circulating through the Federal Reserve system, the shortage prompted lawmakers to authorize limited rounding flexibility for merchants…

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May 14, 2026
Read more about the article Kent County Names New Chief Financial Officer
County News / News You Can Use
Kent County Names New Chief Financial Officer

This week, the Kent County Commissioners named Robert (Bob) W. Gast, Jr. as the County’s new Chief Financial Officer. Gast brings more than 35 years of financial leadership experience across nonprofit, corporate, government-related, and international organizations. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President and CFO for the United States Naval Academy Foundation & Alumni Association, where he led financial reporting modernization efforts, reorganized treasury operations, oversaw five consecutive clean audits, and completed a new…

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May 14, 2026
Read more about the article Calvert Proposed Budget Prioritizes Schools, Public Safety, Roads
County Budgets / County News
Calvert Proposed Budget Prioritizes Schools, Public Safety, Roads

Calvert County’s proposed fiscal 2027 budget increases funding for schools, public safety, employee compensation, and capital projects while continuing the County’s emphasis on reserve levels and long-term fiscal stability. The proposed operating budget totals roughly $420.5 million, while the County’s total capital budget reaches nearly $90 million. The Board of County Commissioners also approved several additions to the staff-recommended budget, including additional education funding, employee compensation increases, and funding tied to Fraternal Order of Police…

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May 13, 2026
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