County Budgets / General Assembly News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
DLS Briefs House Committee On Budget Big Picture

The House Ways and Means Committee received a fiscal briefing from the Department of Legislative Services (DLS) on January 22, 2019. This briefing provides a comprehensive overview of the Governor’s fiscal plan, the State’s economic and revenue outlook, a detailed look at the Governor’s FY 2020 proposed budget, aid to local governments, Transportation Trust Fund outlook, the capital budget, and an outlook for Maryland’s economy in light of Federal changes. The Quick Look at Fiscal 2020 Budget shows that the budget…

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January 22, 2019
Think Tank Proposes Sweeping Tax Overhaul to Fund Kirwan Recommendations
County Budgets / County News / Education / General Assembly News / News You Can Use / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
Think Tank Proposes Sweeping Tax Overhaul to Fund Kirwan Recommendations

A Baltimore-based think tank last week released a report detailing its policy recommendations to fund the ambitious multi-billion-dollar-annual recommendations of the Kirwan Commission, a proposal which amounts to a significant overhaul of Maryland's tax system. The Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education, known informally by the name of its chair, former University of Maryland Chancellor William “Brit” Kirwan, has issued its major recommendations. They have called for a package of new school investments totaling…

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January 21, 2019
From Rehabilitation to Recreation – St. Mary’s Increases Scholarship Funds
County Budgets / County News / Parks and Recreation
From Rehabilitation to Recreation – St. Mary’s Increases Scholarship Funds

The Commissioners of St. Mary's County approved a transfer of $44,000 into the scholarship fund for county kids to participate in Recreation and Parks Programs. The money is from the remaining funds from the St. Mary's County Juvenile Drug Court program. The program is shutting down after 14 years, due to low enrollment. Currently, only two students are enrolled. This is a wonderful gift for the youth of St. Mary’s County. It will allow some…

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January 18, 2019
Conduit Street Podcast: Clues to Hogan’s Budget Proposal, Economic Uncertainty Looming, and the Latest from #MDGA19
County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Education / General Assembly News / Labor / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
Conduit Street Podcast: Clues to Hogan’s Budget Proposal, Economic Uncertainty Looming, and the Latest from #MDGA19

MACo has made the podcast available through both iTunes and Google Play Music by searching Conduit Street Podcast. You can also listen on our Conduit Street blog with a recap and link to the podcast. You can listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website. Useful Links Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Governor Hogan Previews 2020 Budget Proposal Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Federal Government Shutdown: State, Local Governments Feel the Pinch Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Maryland Counties Rally…

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January 18, 2019
MoCo Provides 5 Opportunities for Community Feedback on FY20 Budget
County Budgets / County News
MoCo Provides 5 Opportunities for Community Feedback on FY20 Budget

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is holding five FY20 Operating Budget Forums leading up to his March 15 announcement of the Recommended FY20 Operation Budget. Schedule: January 16, Silver Spring Civic Center (completed) January 22, 7 pm, Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center January 23, 7 pm, Mid-County Recreation Center January 31, 7 pm, BlackRock Center for the Arts February 4, 7 pm, Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School According to the Montgomery County press release: It is…

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January 17, 2019
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
Conduit Street Podcast: 2019 Session Preview
Agriculture / Business Affairs / County Budgets / County News / Education / Employee Benefits and Relations / Environment / Finance and Procurement / General Assembly News / Health and Human Services / Information Technology / Intergovernmental Relations
Conduit Street Podcast: 2019 Session Preview

MACo has made the podcast available through both iTunes and Google Play Music by searching Conduit Street Podcast. You can also listen on our Conduit Street blog with a recap and link to the podcast. You can listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.

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January 11, 2019
Business Affairs / County Budgets / County Government and Structure / County News / Elections / Employee Benefits and Relations / Environment / Finance and Procurement / Government Liability and Courts / Health and Human Services / Human Resources / Information Technology / Intergovernmental Relations / Labor / Parks and Recreation / Pensions & Public Funds / Planning and Zoning / Public Information and Ethics / Public Safety and Corrections / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues / Transportation and Public Works
2019 Legislative Handbook Series – An Indispensable Reference

The Department of Legislative Services has released its quadrennial Legislative Handbook Series, a deep and useful reference series that encapsulates nearly every issue of government at the state and local level. The series may be downloaded or viewed online for free at the links below: Legislative Handbook Series: Vol 1 – Legislators Handbook Vol 2 – Government Services Vol 3 – Revenue Structure Vol 4 – Budget Process Vol 5 – Personnel, Pensions & Procurement…

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January 11, 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
State Receives $10.6M Grant for Early Learning Initiatives
County Budgets / County News / Education / News You Can Use
State Receives $10.6M Grant for Early Learning Initiatives

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) recently received a $10.6 million federal grant to help improve programs for children, birth to five, throughout the State. According to a press release: The Preschool Development Grant will allow Maryland to conduct a needs assessment on the availability and quality of early childhood programs, and develop a strategic plan to fuel continued improvement. Maryland’s new grant is one of 45 recently announced by the US Department of…

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January 8, 2019
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