Read more about the article Capital Budget: From Parks and Playgrounds to Oysters and Old Buildings
Business Affairs / County Budgets / County News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Capital Budget: From Parks and Playgrounds to Oysters and Old Buildings

The capital budget bill spreads limited funding across various needs through capital programs open to county government applicants.  Reading through the smattering of programs included in the State Capital Budget reminds one of the breadth of the work of the State and counties throughout Maryland. From parks and playgrounds to public safety priorities, to water quality and land preservation, county governments are working to improve Maryland, and appreciate State grant funding available to support local endeavors.…

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March 13, 2019
Read more about the article MACo to State: Don’t Shortchange Community Colleges
Council Member Craig Rice
County News / Education / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
MACo to State: Don’t Shortchange Community Colleges

Montgomery County Council Member Craig Rice and Queen Anne's County Commissioner Jack Wilson, MACo's Education Subcommittee Chair and Vice Chair, ask the State to correct a calculation error that accounts for a $9 million decrease in fiscal year 2020 State funding for community colleges. As has been the case for many years, the State's fiscal year 2020 budget did not fully fund the Cade Community College formula. The Cade formula, named after former Senator John…

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March 13, 2019
Read more about the article Keep “Cadillac Tax” in the Garage, National Advocates Urge Congress
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / NACo and Federal Issues
Keep “Cadillac Tax” in the Garage, National Advocates Urge Congress

A tax on healthcare plans that would penalize many county employers is set to go into effect in 2022. The National Association of Counties has joined 500 other organizations in a letter to Congress, requesting repeal of a provision that would charge a fee to employers providing healthcare benefits to their employees that are over a certain low threshold of coverage. The "Cadillac Tax," as it is called, was designed to help subsidize the Affordable…

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March 12, 2019
Read more about the article House Swaps School Construction Slice, Tops with Cherry
County News / School Construction and Capital Budgets
House Swaps School Construction Slice, Tops with Cherry

The House Appropriations Committee approves several budget shifts, adding $62 million to the school construction budget overall for a total of $500 million.  The Governor's proposed budget included $438 million for school construction, including $45 million dedicated to a new school construction program called the Building Opportunity Fund. Now the budget is in the hands of the General Assembly, making its way from the House to the Senate. At the decision meeting of the House…

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March 11, 2019
Read more about the article ‘Do you copy?’ Baltimore County Launches FirstNet Radio Site
Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger
County News / NACo and Federal Issues / Public Safety and Corrections
‘Do you copy?’ Baltimore County Launches FirstNet Radio Site

The Hazelwood Avenue location is part of a federal-state partnership that will bring increased coverage and capacity to first responders across the state. As reported by FirstNet, the First Responder Network Authority, public safety communications in Baltimore County will have a critical upgrade in the launch of a "new, purpose-built cell site." Congressman Ruppersberger, former Baltimore County Executive and former MACo President, attended the launch. He stated, “The launch of this new cell site, with…

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March 5, 2019
Read more about the article Cameras, Doors, Vestibules Top List of School Safety Grant Uses
County News / Education / School Construction and Capital Budgets
Cameras, Doors, Vestibules Top List of School Safety Grant Uses

In a memo from the Public School Construction Program, they report that they have received 172 project requests for a total of $7 million of the $10 million first round of this program. In this program, funding is distributed first based on student enrollment in each county and the amount of square feet of school facilities in each county. Then a county a request funding for security projects in all of its schools facilities, including projects…

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February 25, 2019
Read more about the article Education Funding Per Student Charts for 2019
County News / Education
Education Funding Per Student Charts for 2019

The Department of Legislative Service's where-the-money-goes analysis of revenues per public school student is a calculation of perennial interest to Conduit Street readers. As compared with the 2018 ranking of total per pupil funding, several counties changed ranking position. Allegany and Dorchester counties switched spots, as did Charles and Garrett counties. Calvert, Wicomico, and Caroline swapped places, as did Anne Arundel and St. Mary's. Talbot jumped from last place to 21st, and Frederick and Harford…

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February 20, 2019
Read more about the article Special Case Bill Raises Universal Concerns with State School Construction Funding
County News / School Construction and Capital Budgets
Special Case Bill Raises Universal Concerns with State School Construction Funding

A bill to expand the types of school construction costs eligible for state funding in certain scenarios reveals how eligible cost definitions limit state funding for K-12 school facilities generally. Legislation in the General Assembly would makes land acquisition, architectural, engineering, consulting, and other school construction planning costs eligible costs for state funding in certain cases. Generally, these costs are not eligible for any state funding -- meaning that they are borne entirely by county…

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February 12, 2019
Read more about the article Make Cross-Country Connections, Gain Federal Insight at National County Gathering
County News / NACo and Federal Issues
Make Cross-Country Connections, Gain Federal Insight at National County Gathering

Registration is open for NACo's Annual Legislative Conference, March 2-6, 2019 in Washington DC. Conference Agenda Selected Meetings Leading Local Efforts to Reach Young Children Addressing Ongoing and Emerging Threats Due to Adverse Weather Patterns Creating an Ethical Culture Creative Counties Forum CIO Forum Selected Educational Session Topics Backstage Pass: Behind the Scenes of Congressional Decision Making Get Your Money in the New Economy: Collections via Online Sales Tax and Tax Refund Intercept How Evolving…

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February 7, 2019
Read more about the article A Little Revolving Loan Fund Help from My Friends
County Budgets / County News / Education / School Construction and Capital Budgets
A Little Revolving Loan Fund Help from My Friends

The Governor's proposed budget includes $20 million this year, and more in future years for a revolving loan fund for county governments trying to 'get by' in tight fiscal years without stalling school construction projects.  Last year the 21st Century School Facilities Act implemented a recommendation of the 21st Century School Facilities Commission (often called the Knott Commission) to create a revolving loan fund to help counties unable to make the required match for school…

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January 30, 2019
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