County Budgets Archives

2026 Session Primer: When Do State Tax Changes Spill Over Into County Budgets?

As the 2026 Maryland General Assembly gets underway, tax policy once again sits at the center of the legislative agenda. With lawmakers weighing new credits, deductions, exemptions, and structural tax changes, a familiar and critical question: Which State tax changes affect county budgets — and which do not? The distinction matters. Counties must balance budgets every year, and even small State-level tax decisions can ripple through local revenues. Here’s a practical primer for navigating where…

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January 20, 2026

County Budgets / County News / Emergency Management / Risk Management

Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants Awarded To 55 Local Responder Agencies

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service is providing Volunteer Fire Assistance grants to 55 volunteer fire departments in 17 counties across the state. The funded projects help volunteer fire companies enhance wildland fire protection in rural communities. For the 2025 grant cycle, finalized in December, the Maryland Forest Service is providing $167,314 in match funding to complete $370,376 in total project cost. The grants match up to 50 percent of project cost with…

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January 19, 2026

County Budgets / Housing and Community Development

New State Report Outlines Housing Production Targets Through 2030

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development on December 31 published the 2030 Housing Production Targets for the State of Maryland report, which estimates the number of housing units needed to house every projected Maryland household in 2030. The report also establishes annual housing production benchmarks for jurisdictions that reflect both the severe and urgent need to address the state’s housing shortage and a realistic scaling of current production trends. Some key findings from the…

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January 15, 2026

County Budgets / County News / Elections / Energy / General Assembly News

Setting the Stage for 2026: Affordability, County Priorities, and an Election Year Shift

As Maryland heads into the 2026 General Assembly session, county governments are confronting a familiar challenge, but with sharper edges. In this episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, MACo’s Kevin Kinnally, Michael Sanderson, and Dominic Butchko break down why affordability is the defining theme of the upcoming session. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in the know!

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January 14, 2026

County Budgets / County Government and Structure / County News / Finance and Procurement / Taxes and Revenues

Financial Snapshot Fiscal Year 2026: Budgets, Tax Rates, and Selected Statistics

The Fiscal Year 2026 Budgets, Tax Rates, and Selected Statistics (BTRB) is now available on the MACo website. This annual publication offers an overview of tax structures, tax rates, and revenue trends across Maryland. The BTRB provides information on a a wide range of county revenue sources and budget data. The report is organized into detailed sections, each focusing on a key aspect of fiscal operations - from current tax rates and revenues to multi-year…

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January 8, 2026

County Budgets / News You Can Use / Taxes and Revenues

Frederick Council Expands Daycare Property Tax Credit

The Frederick County Council unanimously passed legislation to expand its property tax credit for daycare providers, increasing local support for an essential sector facing rising costs and persistent provider shortages. Under Bill 25-13, introduced by Council Member Renee Knapp and Council President Brad Young, the maximum allowable property tax credit for qualified daycare providers will increase from $3,000 to $10,000 per property. The change also extends eligibility to include family childcare homes and group day…

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January 7, 2026

County Budgets / County News / Taxes and Revenues

Here’s How Counties Balanced Property Tax Differentials and Rebates in Fiscal 2025

At the local level, counties and municipalities share responsibility for delivering public services. Residents in municipalities pay property taxes to both the county and municipal governments, even when municipal governments provide services that counties deliver elsewhere. Maryland law recognizes that overlap. Property tax set-offs allow counties to account for services municipalities provide, rather than county services, while maintaining local flexibility. The Department of Legislative Services’ annual report on property tax set-offs for fiscal 2025 highlights…

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January 6, 2026

County Budgets / County News / Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development

How Howard County Is Reimagining the Response to Homelessness

What does it take for a county to move toward functional zero for homelessness? In this episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, hosts Karrington Anderson and Dominic Butchko sit down with Kelly Cimino, Director of the Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development, to unpack The Path Toward Zero, Howard County’s ambitious five-year plan to end homelessness. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in the know!

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December 31, 2025

Read more about the article 2026 Issue Preview: Budget Math Gets Harder

Source: DLS

2026 MACo Issue Previews / County Budgets / County News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues

2026 Issue Preview: Budget Math Gets Harder

With the 2026 Legislative Session on the horizon, MACo is profiling significant issues likely to command attention in Annapolis. At the center sits the State budget, where slowing revenues, rising obligations, and shrinking flexibility will drive many of the toughest decisions facing counties and the General Assembly. The 2026 legislative session opens with a challenging budget picture. The Department of Legislative Services lays it out plainly in the annual Issue Papers. Revenue growth slows. Spending…

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December 30, 2025

County Budgets / County News / Environment / Health and Human Services

Water, PFAS, and Climate Resilience: What Counties Need to Know

In this episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, our host Dominic Butchko is joined by Zach Schafer, Assistant Secretary at the Maryland Department of the Environment, for a wide-ranging conversation on the environmental issues shaping county decision-making ahead of the 2026 General Assembly session. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in the know!

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December 24, 2025