Education
Bertino: Kirwan Could Miss the Mark for Worcester

Kirwan could have devastating effect on Worcester Note: This commentary's author is Chip Bertino, a Commissioner for Worcester County, a jurisdiction that bears a puzzling contradiction for fiscal calculations. The county's nominal tax base is inflated by property values, mainly in and around Ocean City, but its full-time residents are not typically "wealthy," and nearly half of its public school students qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on family income. A threat looms over…

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January 16, 2019
Belton Leaving DNR Post, Returning to Charles County
Mark Belton addresses county officials at the 2018 MACo Summer Conference
County News / Environment
Belton Leaving DNR Post, Returning to Charles County

Current Secretary of Natural Resources Mark Belton has announced he plans to return to his former role as Charles County Administrator. The Baltimore Sun covered the pending transition: Belton has been leading the agency — responsible for state parks, crab and oyster fisheries and hunting and boating regulation — since February 2015, early in the Republican governor’s first term. He did not specify the timing of his departure, saying he would choose a date “that…

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January 9, 2019
Conference Delivers Hands-On Advocacy Experience
General Assembly News / Winter Conference
Conference Delivers Hands-On Advocacy Experience

Dozens of county officials engaged in a hands-on advocacy workshop at MACo's winter conference - focusing on messaging and protocol before Annapolis legislative committees. Friday afternoon's session, "The County Official's Guide to Lobbying in Annapolis" involved two groups of county participants taking on real-life examples of issues faced by counties. Working with two General Assembly panelists -- Delegate Steve Arentz and Delegate-elect Debra Davis -- the participants crafted their message, and delivered brief testimony to…

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January 8, 2019
Fresh Faces To Watch in Annapolis
General Assembly News
Fresh Faces To Watch in Annapolis

The Annapolis-focused political website Maryland Matters has released an intriguing list of "Freshmen to Watch" in each chamber of the General Assembly - implicitly highlighting the demographic changes arising from a high-turnover election in 2018 Maryland Matters profiles six new senators and twelve new delegates in their composite pieces. From their website coverage of new Senators, where they choose to focus on "unconventional" players: ...other members of the incoming Senate class are likely to be…

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January 8, 2019
MACo “Book Club” Draws Crowd To Talk Outcome Budgeting
County Budgets / Winter Conference
MACo “Book Club” Draws Crowd To Talk Outcome Budgeting

MACo's "Book Club," a group committed to reading and discussing books with connections to government and public service, held its latest installation at the January 2019 Winter Conference. Andrew Kleine, former Baltimore City Budget Director and recently-named CAO for Montgomery County, joined the group in his role as author of City on the Line, his recent book about outcome based budgeting put to use in Baltimore City. Ted Zaleski, Carroll County's Director of Management and…

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January 7, 2019
NACo and Federal Issues
Partial Federal Shutdown – Who’s Affected, What’s Happening

GovLoop recently published a resource guide for those affected by the partial federal shutdown begun on December 22. While its intended audience may principally include government managers and affected stakeholders, its contents are also useful for community leaders and government revenue watchers in the area around the national capital. From GovLoop: Government agencies that have already received appropriations remain open, but about 25 percent of agencies are now shut down and are operating with a…

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December 27, 2018
MACo Events / Winter Conference
Learn Lobbying Lessons at #MACoCon

During MACo's winter conference, county officials will gain a hands-on opportunity to sharpen their policy advocacy skills, in Friday's "Lobbying 101" session. With much of the MACo Winter Conference focusing on newly elected officials, the Friday schedule decidedly shifts toward a look ahead. The much-awaited annual General Assembly Forecast will lay out the major topics of the legislative session ahead. And right afterward, at 11am, we will offer The County Official's Guide to Lobbying in…

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December 24, 2018
General Assembly News / MACo Events / Winter Conference
What’s Up Next in Annapolis? Hear It All At #MACoCon General Assembly Forecast

Chart Your Course for the 2019 Legislative Session with MACo's Annual Leadership Preview At every MACo Winter Conference, a General Assembly Forecast is a widely-attended Friday morning session, where leaders share their views on major issues ahead. From the Kirwan Commission's surprising detour, to the opioid public health crisis... from Maryland's business climate to global climate change, expect these Annapolis insiders to discuss what they see on the horizon (and pictured above, left to right):…

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December 24, 2018
Agriculture / Economic Development / NACo and Federal Issues
What’s In the Newly-Signed Federal Farm Bill?

With the President signing the long-sought federal "farm bill," its many provisions will affect counties, and many other stakeholders beyond farmers, significantly. From the NACo website, an effective rundown of the process toward a successful outcome, and some highlights of county-friendly provisions: Throughout the farm bill process, NACo helped draft bill text and amendments to preserve and promote key county priorities. Specifically, the final package creates a new Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) grant program,…

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December 21, 2018
NACo and Federal Issues
Federal Shutdown Looms, Local Effects Large

In past instances of federal government shutdowns, a meaningful effect on the regional economy has been felt. With uncertainty abounding (as we write, on Friday December 21), the potential for at least a partial federal shutdown seems possible - with obvious effects on federal employees and related segments of the Maryland and regional economy. From overnight coverage in the Washington Post: Barely 24 hours away from a shutdown set to start at the end of…

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December 21, 2018
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