Thwap! 12 Counties Brace for Funding “Escalator”
County Budgets / County News / Education
Thwap! 12 Counties Brace for Funding “Escalator”

Draft data finds that half of Maryland's counties may be mandated to increase their per-pupil funding for K-12 education under a state law enacted in 2012. The education escalator, a device that mandates increases in county funding for local school systems, will require twelve counties in Maryland to increase their per-pupil funding, according to preliminary data from the State Department of Education. The law mandates increases for any counties that fall behind a statewide moving…

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January 11, 2019
Call in for a Federal Update — 5G, Clean Water Rules, Infrastructure, & Opioids
County News / Intergovernmental Relations
Call in for a Federal Update — 5G, Clean Water Rules, Infrastructure, & Opioids

Each month officials (and staff) from counties in the northeast region of the US (including Maryland) are invited to an update with the advocacy team at the National Association of Counties.   This month's call details: NACo Northeast Regional Conference Call Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019 9:00AM EST Dial-In:1-719-359-9722 Dial-In(toll free): 1-888-757-2790 Guest Passcode: 299194 Featured Update: Jack Peterson - NACo Deputy Legislative Director 2019 Leadership and Administration Changes and the impact on NACo 2019 Priorities What is the…

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January 10, 2019
Maryland Winning Fiscal ‘Give & Take’ with Federal Government in 2017
County Budgets / County News / Intergovernmental Relations / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Maryland Winning Fiscal ‘Give & Take’ with Federal Government in 2017

Maryland received $36.5 billion more in federal funding than Maryland provided to the federal government in taxes and other revenues in the 2017 federal fiscal year. A new report from the Rockefeller Institute of Government compares the amount of federal funding flowing to states with the amount of revenues and other payments that States make to the federal government, Governing magazine shares. According to the Rockefeller data (check out the portal), Maryland is the 4th highest…

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January 9, 2019
It’s Not All ‘Hot Air’. . . Cloud Computing and New Technologies Are Changing Government
Business Affairs / County News / Winter Conference
It’s Not All ‘Hot Air’. . . Cloud Computing and New Technologies Are Changing Government

A panel at MACo's Winter Conference provides an update on major technology shifts and hurdles for county government. Maryland Senator Steve Hershey moderated a panel discussion of Cloud computing, automation, and broadband and 5G at MACo's Winter Conference for county government officials. Mitsuko R. Herrera of the Montgomery County Office of Broadband Programs spoke first on the panel, providing background and insight into broadband and 5G, including issues of preservation of local government authority, private…

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January 8, 2019
Measure Twice and Cut Once When It Comes to Emergency Response
County News / Public Safety and Corrections / Winter Conference
Measure Twice and Cut Once When It Comes to Emergency Response

An educational session at MACo's Winter Conference reveals best practices for requesting and providing assistance across jurisdictional lines during emergencies. Maryland's Senator JB Jennings lead a panel discussion of emergency management response to disasters that overwhelm the capabilities of any one jurisdiction. Jennings himself serves in the Maryland Air National Guard. The first panelist, Maryland Emergency Management Agency Executive Director Russ Strickland described the structure of response -- and how federal, state and county resources…

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January 8, 2019
Dip a Toe in the Waters of Social Media, and Keep an Eye on the Lifeguard
County News / Public Information and Ethics / Winter Conference
Dip a Toe in the Waters of Social Media, and Keep an Eye on the Lifeguard

At Charting the Course, MACo's Winter Conference, county officials hear suggestions for using social media to engage their constituents, and learn about legal issues that may arise in this relatively novel form of communication. Maryland Senator Will Smith, who moderated a panel discussion on social media at MACo's Winter Conference in Cambridge, Maryland during the first week of the year. Smith started the discussion by sharing his experience and perspective, growing up with social media…

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January 8, 2019
I Think This Is the Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship
County News / Winter Conference
I Think This Is the Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

Maryland's associations of elected officials at the State and county levels consider ways to connect with each other on issues of particular relevance to women at MACo's Winter Conference. The Women of MACo's evening reception in Cambridge, Maryland provided networking opportunities to Maryland women county elected officials attending the MACo Winter Conference, including women newly elected to county office. Delegate Sheree Sample-Hughes addressed the group, spoke about her county roots, as a Wicomico County Council…

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January 4, 2019
Education and School Issues Among Many Topics for 2019 General Assembly Session
County Budgets / Education / General Assembly News / School Construction and Capital Budgets / Transportation and Public Works / Winter Conference
Education and School Issues Among Many Topics for 2019 General Assembly Session

Leadership from the Maryland House of Delegates, Senate, and Governor's Administration speak about the 2019 General Assembly Session with perspective on perennial challenges facing Maryland.  Harford County Executive and MACo President Barry Glassman moderated a discussion of the upcoming General Assembly Session and issues facing county governments. Speaker of the House Michael Busch, Senate Majority Leader Douglas J.J. Peters, Minority Leader Senator J.B. Jennings, and Chief Legislative Officer of the Governor's Office Chris Shank shared…

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January 4, 2019
These Boots Were Made for Walking (to Work)
County News / Housing and Community Development / Winter Conference
These Boots Were Made for Walking (to Work)

Walk scores are an indicator used by smart growth advocates seeking community and economic development aims. Prince George's Council Member Dannielle Glaros joined former Maryland Governor Parris Glendening at MACo's Winter Conference for a discussion of smart growth solutions. Glaros shared her personal history of having grown up in a neighborhood where she and her brother could walk to the store to buy milk, and described some of the major projects she is working on…

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January 3, 2019
. . . Show Me That Discretionary Spending Slide Again
Intergovernmental Relations / Winter Conference
. . . Show Me That Discretionary Spending Slide Again

In a session on local government structure, newly elected officials hear about the relationships and responsibilities of county governments -- some of which create significant budget constraints. Maryland's newly elected officials heard a series of presentations intended to provide an introduction to the work of county government officials in Maryland at MACo's Newly Elected Officials Orientation. In a session on local government structure, officials heard about different forms of county government in Maryland (charter, code…

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January 2, 2019
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