County News

Frederick Council Passes Bill to Adjust School Construction Fees

Kevin Kinnally County News, Education, Housing and Community Development, Planning and Zoning, School Construction and Capital Budgets

The Frederick County Council yesterday approved a bill to adjust school construction fees assessed on developers whose projects fail the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) Schools test. APFOs are used to slow or restrict growth until adequate infrastructure or public services are in place to serve the new population of residents.

According to WFMD:

These builders can either build the new school capacity and let their projects go forward, or they could stop building homes until the schools are adequate. A law enacted by the last Board of County Commissioners lets developers pay a certain amount toward school construction, and their project is allowed to continue.

This legislation adjusts the fees annually, starting in January 1st, 2019 to January 1st, 2026, without any action by the Council, and are based on the recent school construction cost data from the state, plus two-percent. The annual increase will be no more than six-percent.

Supporters of the legislation pointed to the fact that while school construction costs have steadily increased, developer fees have not been adjusted since 2014. Opponents of the bill argued that increasing developer fees will inevitably drive up housing costs.

Rising school construction costs are a concern for county government officials across Maryland, and ensuring a continued state commitment to education is a MACo Legislative Initiative for the 2019 General Assembly Session.

The 2016 Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education will recommend major shifts in the relative role of state and local funding in each of Maryland’s twenty-four jurisdictions. At the same time, the 21st Century School Facilities Commission and its legislative outcomes recommended an increased annual State contribution for capital projects, and required ongoing study of school construction project funding and priorities.

MACo advocates for a partnership approach to meeting the education and facility needs of Maryland’s students that fairly balances state responsibilities with local obligations, and seeks equitable and efficient solutions to meet current expenses and future goals.

Useful Links

Read the full article from WFMD

Conduit Street Podcast: Split the Check for School Construction? Not So Fast…

Previous Conduit Street Coverage: It’s Not Apples-to-Apples in School Construction Funding

Carroll Earns Three AAA Bond Ratings

Kevin Kinnally County Budgets, County News, Finance and Procurement, News You Can Use

Carroll County recently received the highly coveted AAA bond rating from all three of the major credit rating agencies. Moody’s granted the county the highest possible rating, following the lead of FitchRatings and Standard & Poor’s (S&P). The rating upgrade translates into a lower interest rate and reduced fees, saving valuable taxpayer dollars.

According to a press release:

The county will immediately feel the improved rating as it readies to finance a new $25M bond sale this week.

The Moody’s ratings rationale “is based on the ongoing expansion of the county’s large tax base and growing revenue streams, resulting in a consistently healthy and stable financial position. The Aaa rating also incorporates the county’s beneficial location near the Baltimore-Washington metro area, above-average resident wealth levels, comprehensive fiscal polies and planning and manageable debt and pension burdens.”

In early October, County Commissioners Dennis Frazier and Stephen Wantz, County Administrator Roberta Windham, Comptroller Robert Burk and Economic Development Director Jack Lyburn travelled to New York City’s financial district to present the county’s case for top ratings to the three rating agencies.

Commissioner Frazier, District 3, said, “This is very exciting as for the first time in history, Carroll County receives the highest rating across the board. This is a win for the county as the ratings will lower our cost of borrowing in the future. This is a great compliment to the county and the reward for its healthy financial position and consistent, conservative fiscal management.”

Read the full press release for more information.

Baltimore City Council Advances “Complete Streets” Legislation

Kevin Kinnally County News, News You Can Use, Transportation and Public Works

The Baltimore City Council on Monday gave preliminary approval to “complete streets” legislation aimed at improving safety and accessibility on roadways for pedestrians and cyclists.

According to The Baltimore Sun:

In a city where one in three households lacks access to a car, the legislation states that the Baltimore City Department of Transportation must “to the greatest extent possible, promote walking, biking, and public transit” and “ensure equity by actively pursuing the elimination of health, economic, and access disparities.”

The legislation would create a “Complete Streets Coordinating Council” to oversee the bill’s mandates. It also requires the city to track whether officials are adequately addressing the transportation needs of Baltimoreans of all races and income levels.

The bill still needs final approval before being sent to the desk of Mayor Catherine Pugh.

As previously reported on Conduit Street, The General Assembly earlier this year approved legislation to create a competitive grant program making Transportation Trust Fund dollars available to local governments for the planning and design of Complete Streets projects.

Local governments own and maintain 83 percent of the roads in the State of Maryland, making them the best catalyst for incorporating Complete Streets principles into Maryland’s transportation network. However, with the decimation of highway user revenues resulting in over $3 billion diverted from local roads funding, counties struggle to accomplish meaningful preventive maintenance on their roads, much less dedicate resources to redesigning streets with all users in mind.

Given this reality, it will take a significant dedication of funding to local roads to transform our state’s transportation network into one which prioritizes pedestrians, cyclists, and transit passengers as highly as it prioritizes cars. MACo supported the bill because it provides a step in the right direction toward that end.

Useful Links

Read the full article from The Baltimore Sun

Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Complete Streets Funding Brings Roads Up to Speed

MACo’s Annapolis Immersion Training – Your Key to MD’s Legislative Session

Virginia White County News

MACo’s 2018 Annapolis Immersion Training will be held on Monday, December 10 at the MACo office (169 Conduit Street, Annapolis, MD) from 10:00 am – 2:30 pm.

AnnapolisStateHouseEvery year, MACo offers an Annapolis Immersion training program to help county officials and professionals navigate the Maryland General Assembly Session. This training is perfect as a primer for new officials and new legislative staff, or as a refresher for returning officials and staff.

The training features segments on the following topics:

  • Overview of the Maryland General Assembly Session and the Legislative Process
  • MACo’s Role in the Legislative Process
  • The Fiscal Note Process
  • The Bond Bill and Budget Hearing Process
  • Tips on Testifying

These topics will be covered by MACo staff, experts from the Department of Legislative Services, and appropriate staff members from House or Senate Committees. Lunch and a walking tour of the State Capitol, Senate, and House buildings are also included.

Registrations Details:

  • Registration is FREE for MACo Members (county elected officials and professionals).  Register today!
  • Non-members will be invited to attend with a $75 registration fee if the training is not full by December 1. Non-members may email Allison Valliant to be put on the waitlist.
  • Space is limited and the deadline is December 1, 2018, so please register today!

 

Frederick Launches Website to Highlight Local Opportunity Zones

Kevin Kinnally County News, Economic Development

Frederick County, in collaboration with the City of Frederick and City of Brunswick, recently launched a website to help connect investors with existing local ventures eligible for the Opportunity Zone incentive program.

The Opportunity Zone program is a nationwide initiative administered by the U.S. Treasury. The program encourages long-term investment of unrealized capital gains into select communities (Opportunity Zones) via a special investment vehicle called Opportunity Funds.

Investors may receive increasing discounts on any capital gains taxes due on that money. If an investment is left in the Opportunity Fund for 10 years, any new gains are free of capital gains taxes.

The program is designed to be flexible, allowing a wide range of investments, and unlike other federal tax programs, there is no authorized cap on the amount of capital that could be made available through Opportunity Zone investments.

According to a press release:

“Frederick County is a great place to do business,” said Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner. “We want to provide investors with a range of opportunities. These new Opportunity Zones provide another reason companies and businesses should locate and expand in Frederick County.”

The Frederick County map-based, interactive platform highlights potential projects throughout the five designated Opportunity Zone Census tracts in Frederick County. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development announced Governor Larry Hogan’s approval in April 2018 of 149 zones in Maryland. Zones were selected based on low-tomoderate income eligible census tracts at the Governor’s discretion.

The five zones in Frederick County have been identified on the website into three areas:

  •  The City of Frederick Opportunity Zone
  • Frederick County RT 355/85 Corridor Opportunity Zone
  • City of Brunswick Opportunity Zone

The County’s Opportunity Zone is centered on the growing RT355/85 Corridor and includes the office, industrial and retail areas of Westview and the FSK Mall. The Frederick County RT 355/85 Opportunity Zone is central to the I-270/I-70 Interchange and the Frederick MARC Station.

Read the full press release for more information.

Cecil Council Going Digital, Will Live-Stream Meetings

Kevin Kinnally County News, Information Technology

Cecil County Council meetings will be live-streamed on the Council’s webpage starting Tuesday, October 16, 2018.

According to a press release:

“By clicking on the link, you will be redirected to our provider, Zoom Video Communications. On your first visit, you will be prompted to ‘download & run Zoom.’ After the brief download, you will then be instructed to provide your email address and name, and that’s it. The livestream will start as soon as the meeting begins.”

Tome added that a separate download will be required for each electronic device.

“It is exciting to offer innovative technologies within the county that will not only benefit government efficiencies but will also help citizens stay engaged and have more awareness,” said Brian Miller, Director of Information Technology.

“The application also enables county employees to meet virtually with other counties, state agencies and businesses via audio and video teleconferences which will helps reduce travel costs.”

The live internet streaming source is included in the audio-video (AV) system upgrades recently completed in the Elk Room at the Cecil County Administration Building. The AV upgrades were part of the approved FY18 budget.

Links to the live-streaming service can be found on the Council’s webpage located at http://www.ccgov.org/government/county-council.

Virus Shuts Down Anne Arundel County Public Library Computers

Kevin Kinnally County News, Education, Information Technology, News You Can Use

Anne Arundel County Public Library (AACPL) officials recently announced that its public computers were exposed to the Emotet virus, an especially deleterious program that spreads via infected email attachments. As a result, some 600 computers are expected to be offline for at least two weeks as officials work to eradicate the virus and scrub the network.

According to a press release:

On October 11, officials discovered that a database of customers who used library computers or the business services kiosk for copying, faxing printing was exposed to the virus. This database, dating back to November 2015, contains library card numbers, customer names and birthdates. No other information, including social security or credit card number, is stored on library servers or is at risk for exposure. However, customers should remain vigilant about their personal information and change any account passwords if they used AACPL computers or the library’s copying, faxing or printing business services kiosk.

“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this attack may have caused our customers,” said AACPL CEO Hampton “Skip” Auld. “Along with many organizations, we’ve discovered vulnerabilities through this breach and are taking comprehensive steps to prevent any future incidents. The library is committed to protecting customers against the misuse of their personal information and we take security issues very seriously.”

If you believe you’ve been affected by this breach, visit the consumer page of the library’s website at www.aacpl.net/consumer for more information.

Nominate an Innovative County Program for NACo’s 2019 Achievement Awards

Nicolette Querry County News, NACo and Federal Issues, News You Can Use
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Harford County wins Best in Arts, Culture and History at the 2018 NACo Achievement Awards

The National Association of Counties is accepting nominations for the 2019 Achievement Awards Program until the March 25, 2019, deadline.

The Achievement Awards Program is a non-competitive awards program that seeks to recognize innovative county government programs. One outstanding program from each category will be selected as the “Best of Category.”

DATES:

Submission Deadline: March 25, 2019 at 11:59 pm

Notification of Achievement Awards: Week of April 22, 2019
NACo Annual Conference and Exposition: July 11 – 15, 2019, Clark County

ELIGIBILITY
Requirements – For each program nominated, general information, program summaries, and payments must be must be submitted to the National Association of Counties (NACo) via the online application portal and payments processed via P.O. must be postmarked by the application deadline.  For more information, please see the HOW TO APPLY section. Judging and review will not take place for unpaid or incomplete applications.

Eligible Nominees – Only county governments and state associations of counties are eligible to submit applications. There is no limit to the number of applications that can be submitted by a single entity. Regional partners are welcome to submit applications for a collective project; however, submitters must identify a single county or state association to submit the application on the group’s behalf.

Program Criteria – 

  1. Programs must accomplish one or more of the following:
    • Offer new services to county residents, fill gaps in the availability of services, fill gaps in or tap new revenue sources
    • Improve the administration of an existing county government program
    • Upgrade the working conditions or level of training for county employees. Enhance the level of citizen participation in, or the understanding of, government programs
    • Provide information that facilitates effective public policy making
    • Promote intergovernmental cooperation and coordination in addressing shared problems
  2. In the case of a program that is in response to a federal or state law, regulation or order, the program must go beyond mere compliance with the statute, regulation or order and must display a creative approach to meeting those requirements.
  3. The program must have measurable results (e.g. cost savings, enhanced employee productivity, improved constituent services, created better intergovernmental cooperation).
  4. The program must be innovative and not rely on techniques or procedures that are common practice in most counties of similar population or size.
  5. All aspects of the program must be consistent with acceptable governmental and financial management practices and must promote general governmental accountability.

Ineligible Programs – 

  • Programs designed to influence laws or regulations
  • Certification or accreditation programs
  • Events that ONLY take place one time, such as conducting a conference, the formation of a task force or the establishment of a committee
  • Programs that are adopted, whole or in part, from other public or private entities
  • Programs, whole or in part, that have received a previous NACo Achievement Award
  • Programs that the purchase of new technology or equipment, the construction of a building or the privatization/contracting out of a function
  • A newsletter or a publication
CATEGORIES
  • Arts, Culture and Historic PReservation
  • Children and Youth
  • Civic Education and Public Information
  • Community and Economic Development
  • County Administration and Management
  • County Resiliency: Infrastructure, Energy and Sustainability
  • Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Financial Management
  • Health
  • Human Services
  • Information Technology
  • Libraries
  • Parks and Recreation
  • Personnel Management, Employment and Training
  • Planning
  • Risk and Emergency Management
  • Transportation
  • Volunteers
APPLYING
Step 1: Prepare the Nomination Summary

  • Abstract of the Program
  • The Problem or Need for the Program
  • Description of the Program
  • Responding to Economic Downturn (optional)
  • The Cost of the Program
  • The Results/Success of the Program
  • Worthiness of Award
  • Supplemental Materials (optional)

Step 2: Sumit Your Information

  • Contact Information
  • Program Information
  • Terms and Conditions

  APPLY NOW

Conduit Street Podcast: Split the Check for School Construction? Not So Fast…

Kevin Kinnally County Budgets, County News, Education, School Construction and Capital Budgets

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally is joined by MACo’s Research Director, Robin Eilenberg, to discuss school construction in Maryland. For many years the State-county partnership on school construction has been strong, with the Department of Legislative Services reporting that from fiscal 2006 through 2013, the State provided $2.4 billion in new funds for school construction while Counties provided $2.1 billion for school construction.

Increases in school construction costs in recent years, however, threaten to strain that relationship and offset the balance of the shared commitment to building and renovating facilities for Maryland’s K-12 students. Eligible cost definitions and state environmental and labor mandates are at the heart of the division.

Listen here:

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: It’s Not Apples-to-Apples in School Construction Funding

21st Century School Facilities Act

Interagency Commission on School Construction

State Cost Share Percentages

MABE Elects New President, Revises Continuing Resolutions

Kevin Kinnally County News, Education

At the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE) Annual Conference this fall, the organization elected a new president and adopting revisions to its continuing resolutions, including language on the local contribution of additional costs for high needs students (English Learners, Special Education, and Compensatory Program).

The President of MABE for the next year is C. Tolbert Rowe, member of the Caroline County Board of Education. The MABE board of directors is comprised of the officers of the association, the immediate past president, and twelve additional members. All must be current members of their local boards of education.

In his first message to members, Rowe stated,

This may seem like a lot of work, all these challenges and opportunities. But I don’t think any of us would be sitting here in this room, on this last day of a very productive and educational conference, if we did not want to do the very best for our children and by our children. I have great faith in MABE – the staff, the leadership, the Board of Directors, and every one of our members – to recognize the challenges and seize on the opportunities. I look forward to working with each of you this year.

Also at the Conference, MABE updated its continuing resolutions, which provide the foundation for the Association’s legislative and policy positions in the year ahead. Current law does not require counties to match additional state funding for high needs students. MABE adopted the following resolution suggesting that counties should be required to pay a portion of the additional costs for high needs students. MABE states,

Support for legislation to require local governments to fund their share of the additional costs for high needs students (English Learners, Special Education, and Economic Disadvantage)

As previously reported on Conduit Street, according to the Commission on Innovation & Excellence in Education, total State and local expenditures on special education equaled $1.567 billion in fiscal 2015. Of this, the State provided $272 million, or 17.3% of the total. Counties accounted for the remaining $1.296 billion, or 82.7% of the total.

For more information, read all of MABE’s updated resolutions or read the press release from their Annual Conference.