Read more about the article MD Paid Leave Program: Key Updates and Deadlines for Counties
County Budgets / County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Labor
MD Paid Leave Program: Key Updates and Deadlines for Counties

As counties prepare for Maryland’s new paid family and medical leave program, a recent webinar hosted by Bolton is updating local governments on private-plan coverage and helping public employers navigate upcoming decisions. The MACo, MABE, MML Time to Care Act (TCA) Collaborative recently provided an update on its private-plan process, including changes in the insurance market and upcoming deadlines for local governments. As previously covered by MACo, in 2023, MACo joined with the Maryland Association…

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August 27, 2026
Read more about the article The Briefing Room: Preservation as a Housing Strategy
County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Feature / Housing and Community Development
The Briefing Room: Preservation as a Housing Strategy

Building new housing is only part of the affordability challenge. Counties also need tools to preserve the affordable homes already in their communities. In Episode 7 of The Briefing Room's housing finance series, Dom Butchko and Terry Hickey are joined by Jonathan R. Butler, Director of the Prince George’s County Department of Housing & Community Development, to explore preservation as a housing strategy. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your…

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August 25, 2026
Read more about the article Summer MACoCon Is Over but the Conversations Continue
County Budgets / County News / Cyber / Elections / Energy / Environment / Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development / Human Resources / Information Technology / Planning and Zoning / Summer Conference
Summer MACoCon Is Over but the Conversations Continue

The 2026 Summer MACoCon might be over, but many of the conversations that filled the convention center's halls are ongoing. In this episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Shantelle Malcolm-Lym is joined by Karrington Anderson and Dominic Butchko to look back at what stood out at MACoCon and, more importantly, what comes next. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in…

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August 21, 2026
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…

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August 19, 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…

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August 18, 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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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August 5, 2026
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