Read more about the article Good Government Book Club to Explore “Why Nothing Works”
Winter Conference
Good Government Book Club to Explore “Why Nothing Works”

MACo’s “good government” Book Club will renew in December – with a trending topic:  Why Nothing Works. Join us for the conference and this discussion, with a free advance copy of the book. At the MACo Winter Conference, county officials and other guests can join a discussion on a book affecting public service and best practices as officials, employees, and colleagues. The selection for December 2025 is Why Nothing Works, by Marc J. Dunkelman. From…

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November 4, 2025
Read more about the article Deep Dive: Subsidized School Meals Safe From Shutdown… for Now
Education / Health and Human Services / NACo and Federal Issues / Policy Deep Dive
Deep Dive: Subsidized School Meals Safe From Shutdown… for Now

Amidst the federal government's shutdown of "non-essential" services, its central food assistance program is slated to cease support on November 1. Guidance suggests that in-school free and reduced-price meals will not be an immediate casualty of the federal freeze -- but this comfort is not certain if the shutdown continues for multiple weeks. The US Government, in the absence of either an annual budget or a comprehensive "continuing resolution," has ceased its functions deemed non-essential.…

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October 30, 2025
Read more about the article Baltimore Facing Foreclosure Wave from Investors’ “Housing Hustle”
Housing and Community Development
Baltimore Facing Foreclosure Wave from Investors’ “Housing Hustle”

Baltimore, like much of America, has seen a dramatic spike in investor-driven property ownership in recent years. A Baltimore Banner article unravels a story of New York investors leaving multiple corporate-owned Baltimore properties in distress. Amidst a severe national housing crisis, multiple contributing factors have contributed to the challenges facing leaders seeking to promote more accessible and attainable housing options. Among them is the advance of corporate-owned properties, as speculators seek to capitalize on the…

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October 2, 2025
Read more about the article Deep Dive: Is MD Keeping Up With School Construction?
Policy Deep Dive / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Deep Dive: Is MD Keeping Up With School Construction?

A recent report on Maryland's public school construction efforts lays out the deepest evaluation of this priority effort in decades. The bottom line seems clear: Maryland's structure to support new and renovated school buildings is effective overall, but the total commitment has been dwarfed by cost increases, and we have fallen behind on this essential commitment to education. The report from Comptroller Brooke Lierman's office, "State Spending Series: School Construction," offers a timely look at…

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September 24, 2025
Read more about the article Summer #MACoCon Good Government Book Club Asks … “Who is Government?”
Summer Conference
Summer #MACoCon Good Government Book Club Asks … “Who is Government?”

MACo’s “good government” Book Club met in August – with a book called Who Is Government?: The Untold Story of Public Service. Conference powered this this discussion, with a free advance copy of the book. At the MACo Summer Conference, county officials and other guests engaged around a book affecting public service and best practices as officials, employees, and colleagues. The selection for August 2025 was Who Is Government?: The Untold Story of Public Service,…

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August 20, 2025
Read more about the article Trust, Invest, Repeat. Tackling Retiree Health Care Costs
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Finance and Procurement / Human Resources / Policy Deep Dive
Trust, Invest, Repeat. Tackling Retiree Health Care Costs

The MACo OPEB Investment Trust - designed to help counties put current assets to work toward long-term health care liabilities - is performing well, delivering healthy returns, and serving member needs. It recently topped $100m in total assets -- all "put to work" through active investment for a stronger long term return than would be allowable without the Trust infrastructure. The Board of Trustees of the MACo OPEB Investment Trust recently convened a quarterly meeting…

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July 30, 2025
Read more about the article Free July 28 Webinar: Prescription Drug Costs & County Impacts
Employee Benefits and Relations / Health and Human Services / NACo and Federal Issues
Free July 28 Webinar: Prescription Drug Costs & County Impacts

The National Association of Counties, through its Public Promise Insurance program, is hosting an informational webinar on prescription drugs and county healthcare costs. Register here for this July 28 online meeting. Webinar: Legislative Landscape: Prescription Drug Costs & County Impacts Wednesday, July 23, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET There is significant legislative activity at both the federal and state levels focused on prescription drug costs. These developments have important implications for employer-sponsored…

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July 16, 2025
Read more about the article July 24 Comptroller Briefing: Federal Impact on MD Economy
Intergovernmental Relations / NACo and Federal Issues / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
July 24 Comptroller Briefing: Federal Impact on MD Economy

Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman will host an online briefing to review findings from her recent report, "Federal Impact on Maryland's Economy." Register now to attend this timely and important fiscal discussion. Last month, the Comptroller of Maryland released a report on the Federal Impact on Maryland’s Economy. This report was done in partnership with the University of Maryland Smith Business School. To ensure the information in the report is presented to partners in Government, Comptroller…

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July 10, 2025
Read more about the article The New SALT Write-Off Applies This Year – Who Gets It?
NACo and Federal Issues / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
The New SALT Write-Off Applies This Year – Who Gets It?

Federal deductibility of state and local taxes, aka "SALT," were a sticking point in the federal reconciliation package. Now that it has passed, how big an effect will the change create? NACo staff presented their analysis of the federal reconciliation legislation at this week's meeting of the MACo Legislative Committee, sharing insight into the many policy and fiscal changes encompassed in the so-called "big beautiful bill." Among the elements that caught much attention was a…

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July 10, 2025
Read more about the article Carroll Commissioners’ Podcast Launches on Video
County Government and Structure / County News / Government Liability and Courts / Public Safety and Corrections
Carroll Commissioners’ Podcast Launches on Video

The Carroll County Commissioners' podcast, a regular offering from the county leadership, ventures into video for a special interview with the current, outgoing, State's Attorney as he reflects on years of municipal, county, and state service. Carroll County Commissioner Mike Guerin interviewed the State's Attorney Haven Shoemaker for the video discussion. Shoemaker has served in municipal government, county government (as a commissioner), and as a Delegate in the General Assembly. He reflects on his years…

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July 2, 2025
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