After wrapping our series on Maryland’s energy future, The Briefing Room turns to another defining challenge for counties: housing. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in the know!
This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson is joined by Steve Hobbs, Executive Director of the Missouri Association of Counties, for a conversation on the issues shaping county government across state lines. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in the know!
Anne Arundel County is preparing to launch a new finance and e-procurement system to modernize county operations and improve how businesses interact with local government. The new platform, called Harbor, is scheduled to go live in July and will replace the County’s legacy procurement system with a centralized cloud-based platform built on Oracle Fusion Cloud. County officials say the new system is designed to streamline procurement and financial processes while making it easier for both…
Maryland counties have until July 13 to comment on a sweeping federal proposal that would rewrite the rules governing billions of dollars in federal grant funding. The US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed the most significant changes to the Uniform Guidance since its adoption in 2013. The Uniform Guidance, codified in 2 CFR Part 200, establishes federal requirements for grants and cooperative agreements that support county programs, including public safety and emergency…
The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged this week, maintaining the federal funds rate in a target range of 3.5% to 3.75%. While the Fed left rates unchanged, updated projections from policymakers point toward a different outlook than earlier this year. Federal Reserve officials now expect interest rates to finish 2026 slightly higher than current levels, reversing projections issued three months ago that anticipated rate cuts. The Federal Open Market Committee described the economy as…
A new Executive Order from Governor Moore encourages State agencies to prioritize Maryland-sourced wood products in public projects. Governor Moore issued an Executive Order directing Maryland State agencies to prioritize the use of in-state wood products in public projects whenever wood is an appropriate and cost-competitive building material. The order aims to strengthen Maryland's forest products industry while advancing sustainable economic development and responsible forest management. According to the announcement, Maryland's forestry and wood products…
Maryland collected more than $26.2 million in cannabis sales tax revenue during the first quarter of 2026. Local governments received $341,990. That amount represents the entire local government share of Maryland’s cannabis tax distribution. Counties initially receive those funds, but State law requires them to distribute 50% of the allocation to municipalities that host cannabis dispensaries that generate the revenue. As a result, counties retain less than the already modest local share. The State imposes…
The Comptroller of Maryland will launch Maryland Tax Connect for individual taxpayers on September 1, replacing several legacy tax systems and marking the State’s first major tax administration modernization effort in more than three decades. Maryland Tax Connect already serves business taxpayers. Beginning September 1, individual taxpayers will also use the portal to file returns, make payments, review account information, access notices, check balances, and manage payment plans through a single online system. According to…
Maryland has awarded $690,000 in competitive grants to support nine flood reduction and restoration projects aimed at helping local communities better prepare for flooding, erosion, and severe weather. The funding, announced by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), will support planning and design work for projects across seven counties and reflects the state’s continued investment in resilience and flood mitigation. The grants are funded through Maryland’s Resilience Through Restoration Initiative and the National Oceanic…
This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, Dominic Butchko and Kevin Kinnally record from the Conference of Southern County Associations (CSCA) in Williamsburg, Virginia, joined by county leaders and policy experts from across the South for a discussion on the issues shaping local government today. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in the know!