Read more about the article 2019 End of Session Wrap-Up: State Operating Budget
County Budgets / County News / General Assembly News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
2019 End of Session Wrap-Up: State Operating Budget

The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work in the area of State budget policy in the 2019 General Assembly.  County governments receive support through multiple state operating budget programs, and shifts in the State's budget can affect county governments in various ways. MACo seeks county budget security through maintenance of current state funding levels, and new funding programs and enhancements in areas of growth and need. This year, reviving county health department funding,…

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April 11, 2019
Read more about the article 2019 End of Session Wrap-Up: Information Technology
County News / General Assembly News / Information Technology / Public Information and Ethics / Public Safety and Corrections
2019 End of Session Wrap-Up: Information Technology

An overview of MACo’s advocacy on information technology issues in the 2019 General Assembly.  Information technology is a growing area of importance for MACo as county governments rely on computer systems of increasing sophistication for a widening scope of operations -- including public safety applications, open government portals, billing functions, and emergency alerts systems used during major natural and man-made emergencies. As county use of information technology evolves, cybersecurity and protection of resident data rise…

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April 10, 2019
Read more about the article 2019 End of Session Wrap-Up: School Construction & Capital Budget
County News / General Assembly News / School Construction and Capital Budgets
2019 End of Session Wrap-Up: School Construction & Capital Budget

An overview of MACo’s advocacy on school construction and capital budget legislation in the 2019 General Assembly.  County governments partner with the State of Maryland to fund school construction projects throughout Maryland. K-12 school renovation and construction projects make up a substantial portion of any county's capital budget, and the needs of Maryland students are consistently a high priority. In 2019, Commitment to Education was one of MACo's three lead initiatives. MACo’s advocacy on the…

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April 10, 2019
Read more about the article 2019 End of Session Wrap-Up: Pensions
County News / General Assembly News / Pensions & Public Funds
2019 End of Session Wrap-Up: Pensions

An overview of MACo’s advocacy on pensions issues in the 2019 General Assembly.  Half of Maryland's counties participate in the State's pension system, and the other half support their employees through local pension systems. MACo's pension advocacy includes defending local authority to define the elements of county-run pension systems, and protecting the interests of county governments participating in the State's pension system. Follow links below for more coverage on Conduit Street and MACo’s Legislative Database.  MACo opposed legislation…

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April 10, 2019
Read more about the article Drone Workgroup Flies into Formation
County News / Intergovernmental Relations / Public Safety and Corrections / Summer Conference / Transportation and Public Works
Drone Workgroup Flies into Formation

The Maryland State Geographic Information Committee, often called  MSGIC, held the first meeting of a new standing statewide workgroup on drones. Drone pilots, contractors, and aviation consultants joined representatives of state and county governments this week for the initial meeting of a workgroup on unmanned aerial systems, commonly called drones. Meeting attendees included representation from: Private entities including: surveying companies, government consultants, construction management firms State agencies including: Maryland Environmental Service, Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland State…

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April 4, 2019
Read more about the article Live Long and Prosper. . . from Your Government Pension
County News / Pensions & Public Funds
Live Long and Prosper. . . from Your Government Pension

A policy analyst at the Reason Foundation describes how longevity in the public workforce, if not factored into cost predictions, can create difficulties for local government pension plans.  A recent study found that workers in certain government professions, especially teachers, tend to live longer than those retired from the private sector or the general public. Local governments that support pensions for those government employees, therefore, need to ensure that they are using updated mortality projections…

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April 4, 2019
Read more about the article Lessons in Resilience from Florida Counties
County News / NACo and Federal Issues / Public Safety and Corrections / Transportation and Public Works
Lessons in Resilience from Florida Counties

Route Fifty offers a webinar on resilience featuring speakers from State and local governments in a state that faces frequent natural disasters. Route Fifty, a national source of government news offers a free webinar on resilience with speakers targeted for local government listeners. From Route Fifty: State and local governments across the country are increasingly facing challenges building communities resilient to the physical, social and economic changes taking shape both regionally and nationally. Tune in…

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March 29, 2019
Read more about the article County and Legislative Leaders Push for Build to Learn Act
County News
County and Legislative Leaders Push for Build to Learn Act

The Build to Learn Act of 2019, a $2.2 billion school construction funding bill, having passed the House of Delegates, has a hearing in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. The Maryland Association of Counties supported the legislation as introduced with amendment, recommending changes to the legislation to ensure its accessibility for all counties. MACo's Legislative Committee re-affirmed its position on the amended bill at its meeting prior to the Senate hearing. Maryland counties have…

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March 28, 2019
Read more about the article Regional Schools Bill Moves with MACo Amendment
County Budgets / County News / Education / School Construction and Capital Budgets
Regional Schools Bill Moves with MACo Amendment

A bill that would allow school boards to create regional schools through local agreements has passed the Maryland Senate with a friendly amendment to clarify that county governments must also approve the agreements. Maryland county governments are partners in school construction with the State, together funding the many construction and renovation projects that support K-12 public education.   County governments are consistently open to innovative approaches to addressing student education needs and supported Senator Hester's…

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March 19, 2019
Read more about the article “Supercharged” School Construction – Pieces Falling into Place
County News / Education / School Construction and Capital Budgets
“Supercharged” School Construction – Pieces Falling into Place

A new way to spend $2.2 billion more school construction funding is on its way to passage in the House of Delegates, with the second reader completed. The amended bill divvies up the funding by percentages to certain counties in the State. Legislation creating a large new funding program for school construction is advancing in the General Assembly. The bill that is headed toward passage in the General Assembly is a heavily amended version of legislation…

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March 17, 2019
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