Taxes, Fees, Charges: What’s the Difference?

This article is part of MACo’s Policy Deep Dive series, where expert policy analysts explore and explain the top county policy issues of the day. A new article is added each week – read all of MACo’s Policy Deep Dives. Government revenue is critical to funding all public services. In Maryland, county governments receive revenues from two primary sources: own-source revenues, which include locally generated revenues such as property taxes and income taxes, fees, and intergovernmental…

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Maryland Gov. Wes Moore Makes Diverse Appointments to Anne Arundel Circuit Court, District Court

Gov. Wes Moore made one appointment to the Anne Arundel Circuit Court and one to the Anne Arundel District Court to replace two retiring judges, his office announced earlier this month. Judge-designee Ginina Alexandra Jackson-Stevenson will fill Glenn L. Klavans’ role on the circuit court, while Jennifer Michelle Alexander will replace John P. McKenna Jr. on the district court. “Anne Arundel County has gained two exceptional legal minds who will undoubtedly make meaningful and lasting…

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Fun Fact: Which County is the Perfect Spot to Immerse Yourself in a Genuine German Christmas Experience?

The Inner Harbor in Baltimore has been transformed into an authentic German Christmas village. The holiday festival is a combination of outdoor and indoor events at West Shore Park. Modeled after the famous Christkindl Market in Nuremberg, Germany, visitors can experience a genuine German Christmas. Events started November 18th and go through Christmas Eve 2023. Vendors offer both local and international goods. Visitors can enjoy European food, drinks and sweets. If you need to do…

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Breath of Fresh Water: Positive Trends in Chesapeake Bay Oxygen Levels

A new report on oxygen levels in the Chesapeake Bay showed that the bay was a healthier place this summer for fish, crabs and oysters. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources said its water sampling, conducted jointly with Old Dominion University, found the best levels of dissolved oxygen in waters of the bay since monitoring began 39 years ago. Improved oxygen levels are better for living organisms, including the organisms that fish, crabs and oysters…

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Autumn’s Canvas: A November 16th Fall Foliage Update

Fall foliage in Maryland this year was unpredictable yet still delighted with breathtaking fall color, even if it was short-lived in some areas of the state. We began the season discussing possible leaf outcomes from this summer’s drought, and Marylanders in some regions certainly saw their share of premature leaf drop and subdued fall hues. The pace of leaf changes picked up markedly toward season’s end, with some of our Western Maryland foresters seeing changes…

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Montgomery County Unveils Great Seneca Transit Network Development for Enhanced Access

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, County Council President Evan Glass and the County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) have announced the beginning of Phase 1 of the Great Seneca Transit Network (GSTN) at a ceremonial “groundpainting” of dedicated bus lanes at the Traville Parkway Transit Center in Rockville.  County Executive Elrich and Council President Glass were joined at the event by Council Vice President Andrew Friedson, Councilmembers Marylin Balcombe and Natali Fani-González, MCDOT Director Chris Conklin, and…

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Nov 29 Board of Public Works Meeting: Here’s What Counties Need to Know

The Board of Public Works (BPW) — a three-member panel including Governor Wes Moore, Comptroller Brooke Lierman, and State Treasurer Dereck Davis — reviews projects, contracts, and expenditure plans for state agencies, many of which affect county governments. The BPW considered and approved the following requests and recommendations at its meeting on November 29, 2023: Allegany County A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $420,000 grant to the City of Cumberland for…

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Meet Your Local Management Board on Dec 5 Before #MACoCon

Meet your local management board ahead of MACo's Winter Conference! The Maryland Association of Local Management Boards (LMBs) is hosting a social networking event for county leaders and officials ahead of the 2023 MACo Winter Conference in Cambridge. Local Management Boards are active in all 24 of Maryland’s counties and perform a variety of critical roles to support Maryland children and families. Working closely with county government, there are ample opportunities to partner and better…

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Frederick Council Considers Tax Credit to Incentivize Daycare Services

The Frederick County Council is considering legislation establishing a property tax credit for individuals who make property improvements to offer daycare services to children and adults. Bill 23-22, sponsored by Council President Brad Young and Council Member Renee Knapp, would establish a property tax credit against the County property tax imposed on the improvement of real property if the improvement is used exclusively as a family childcare home, licensed childcare center, licensed daycare center for…

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