Read more about the article Explainer: Two Budget Cycles Shifted $165M in Pension Costs to Counties
County Budgets / Pensions & Public Funds / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Explainer: Two Budget Cycles Shifted $165M in Pension Costs to Counties

Across two consecutive budget cycles, the State has added nearly $165 million in annual costs to county budgets through new pension obligations and the elimination of retirement grants. The total includes $137 million in new annual retirement costs shifted to counties and a $27.7 million loss in annual supplemental retirement grants. The State created those grants as part of the 2012 teacher pension cost shift. How the 2012 Pension Shift Worked Before 2012, the State funded employer…

Comments Off on Explainer: Two Budget Cycles Shifted $165M in Pension Costs to Counties
August 19, 2026
Read more about the article DLS Releases 2026 County-By-County Guide to Local Taxing Authority
County News / Taxes and Revenues
DLS Releases 2026 County-By-County Guide to Local Taxing Authority

The Maryland Department of Legislative Services (DLS) has released the 2026 edition of its Guide to Local Government Taxing Authority, a county-by-county reference to the revenue tools available to Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City. The guide gives county leaders, budget and finance staff, and advocates a detailed look at the taxes, fees, credits, exemptions, and other revenue authorities available in each jurisdiction. What’s Inside DLS breaks down local taxing authority for every county and…

Comments Off on DLS Releases 2026 County-By-County Guide to Local Taxing Authority
August 18, 2026
Read more about the article Local Revenue Task Force Sets Second Meeting for August 31
County Budgets / General Assembly News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Local Revenue Task Force Sets Second Meeting for August 31

The Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Structures will meet again on August 31 as members continue examining Maryland’s local revenue structure and the fiscal pressures facing local governments. The Task Force will meet virtually on Monday, August 31, at 10:30 am. Members will receive an agenda and additional information ahead of the meeting, and the General Assembly website will stream the meeting live. As previously reported on Conduit Street, the Task Force…

Comments Off on Local Revenue Task Force Sets Second Meeting for August 31
August 18, 2026
Read more about the article Digital Ad Tax Ruling Adds to Blueprint Funding Pressure
Source: Maryland Department of Legislative Services
Education / General Assembly News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
Digital Ad Tax Ruling Adds to Blueprint Funding Pressure

A Maryland Tax Court decision striking down Maryland’s digital advertising tax could create another significant challenge for funding the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. The tax has generated hundreds of millions of dollars for the education plan, which already faces growing costs and long-term funding pressures. On August 14, the Maryland Tax Court ruled that Maryland’s digital advertising tax violates federal law. The court ordered refunds of taxes paid, plus applicable interest, in separate challenges brought by…

Comments Off on Digital Ad Tax Ruling Adds to Blueprint Funding Pressure
August 17, 2026
Read more about the article Your Road to MACoCon Podcast Playlist, Powered by The Briefing Room
County Budgets / County News / Housing and Community Development
Your Road to MACoCon Podcast Playlist, Powered by The Briefing Room

Heading to MACo’s Summer Conference? Of course you are, and The Conduit Street Podcast's The Briefing Room has your drive covered. As county leaders, partners, and policy professionals make their way to MACoCon this week, The Briefing Room is trading a new episode for a chance to catch up on our latest deep-dive series. Over the last six episodes, MACo’s Dom Butchko and Baltimore County Director of Housing & Community Development Terry Hickey have taken…

Comments Off on Your Road to MACoCon Podcast Playlist, Powered by The Briefing Room
August 10, 2026
Read more about the article Special Bonus Episode: Frederick County’s Data Center Playbook
County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Environment / Information Technology
Special Bonus Episode: Frederick County’s Data Center Playbook

Following the response to The Briefing Room's energy series, we're revisiting one of the topics that generated the most listener interest: data centers. In this special bonus episode, Dom Butchko is joined by Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater to discuss why Frederick County has become one of Maryland's leaders in developing local data center policy. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and…

Comments Off on Special Bonus Episode: Frederick County’s Data Center Playbook
August 7, 2026
Read more about the article Calvert County Adopts FY27 Budget, Expands School Safety Investments
County Budgets / County News
Calvert County Adopts FY27 Budget, Expands School Safety Investments

The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners has approved a $420 million Fiscal Year 2027 operating budget that maintains current tax rates while increasing investments in education, school safety, transportation infrastructure, and employee compensation. The budget keeps the county's local income tax rate at 3.2% and property tax rate at 96.7 cents per $100 of assessed value, although officials note some homeowners may still see higher tax bills because of increased property assessments conducted by…

Comments Off on Calvert County Adopts FY27 Budget, Expands School Safety Investments
August 6, 2026
Read more about the article Garrett County Commissioners Add Nearly $2M in Discretionary Funds for School System
County Budgets / Education
Garrett County Commissioners Add Nearly $2M in Discretionary Funds for School System

Recent budget approvals in Garrett see a $4M increase in school operating funds from the county government, including nearly $2M above the statutory requirement.  The Board of County Commissioners in Garrett approved a budget of $38,405,016 for the FY27 operating expenses of Garrett County Public Schools (GCPS). This is about $1.8M more than the state mandated requirement for FY27 and just shy of $4M more than the prior year. This brings the total increase over…

Comments Off on Garrett County Commissioners Add Nearly $2M in Discretionary Funds for School System
August 5, 2026
Read more about the article Nearly $4.8M Goes to Counties This Week from the Board of Public Works
Board of Public Works / County Budgets
Nearly $4.8M Goes to Counties This Week from the Board of Public Works

The Board of Public Works approved just shy of $4.8M for county projects this week including watershed improvements and enhancements for outdoor recreation.  Three counties this week were granted funding approvals by the Maryland Board of Public Works for various projects. $3.7M came from Program Open Space funding and is to be distributed to Prince George's and Washington. Prince George's received the primary share of that allocation with $3.6M coming their way, and $150K going…

Comments Off on Nearly $4.8M Goes to Counties This Week from the Board of Public Works
August 5, 2026
Read more about the article The Briefing Room: The Office-To-Housing Challenge
County News / Finance and Procurement / Housing and Community Development
The Briefing Room: The Office-To-Housing Challenge

Converting empty offices into housing sounds like a straightforward way to address two challenges at once, but the financial and physical realities are often far more complicated. In Episode 6 of The Briefing Room’s housing finance series, Dom Butchko and Terry Hickey are joined by Tim Karp of JPMorgan Chase to explore the office-to-housing challenge and what separates a viable conversion from a project that is unlikely to move forward.   Tune in to the…

Comments Off on The Briefing Room: The Office-To-Housing Challenge
August 5, 2026
Newer Posts
Older Posts