Fun Fact: Cold? The Co-Discoverer of the North Pole is From This County!
County News / Fun Fact
Fun Fact: Cold? The Co-Discoverer of the North Pole is From This County!

Famed explorer Matthew Henson was born in 1866 in Charles County near the town of Nanjemoy. Explorer Matthew Henson Explorer Robert Edwin Peary hired Henson as his valet for expeditions. For more than two decades, they explored the Arctic. On April 6, 1909, Peary, Henson, and the rest of their team made history and were the first people to reach the North Pole on record. However, the designation is still widely debated to this day.…

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January 28, 2022
Counties Opposed to Potential Prohibitions Limiting Ability to Set Qualification Standards in Hiring
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Labor / MACo Testimony
Counties Opposed to Potential Prohibitions Limiting Ability to Set Qualification Standards in Hiring

On January 27, 2022, Associate Director Brianna January submitted written testimony to the Senate Finance Committee in opposition of SB 66 Labor and Employment - Hiring - Education Requirements (Give Me A Chance - Job Opportunities Act of 2022). This bill would prohibit counties, as employers, from using level of educational achievement, such as high school or college degree, as a qualifying factor for employment or internal advancement. While the bill does offer some language exempting…

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January 28, 2022
January 26 Board of Public Works Meeting: Here’s What Counties Need to Know
Board of Public Works / County News
January 26 Board of Public Works Meeting: Here’s What Counties Need to Know

The Board of Public Works (BPW) — a three-member panel including Governor Larry Hogan, Comptroller Peter Franchot, 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 January 26, 2022: Note: This is a list of county-specific items, not a comprehensive list of BPW actions. Allegany County A request from…

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January 27, 2022
MACo Supports “Local Option” Amendment for Pension Enhancements
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / MACo Testimony / Public Safety and Corrections
MACo Supports “Local Option” Amendment for Pension Enhancements

MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee in support of SB 115 - Law Enforcement Officers’ Pension System - Benefits with amendments. This bill would increase the normal service retirement benefit multiplier for members of the Law Enforcement Officers’ Pension System from 2.0% to 2.5%. The bill would also raise the cap on normal service retirement benefit payments from 65% to 70% of the member’s average final compensation. SB 115 is…

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January 27, 2022
Cecil County Executive Hornberger Delivers State of the County Address
County News
Cecil County Executive Hornberger Delivers State of the County Address

County Executive Danielle Hornberger this week delivered her second State of Cecil County address. The address was streamed virtually as part of the Cecil County Chamber of Commerce’s annual State of the County event. “I am excited to have the opportunity to share this year’s remarks with the citizens of Cecil County,” stated County Executive Hornberger. “While 2021 was certainly filled with undeniable challenges, our county had a tremendously positive year highlighted by our community’s…

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January 27, 2022
Legislators Briefed by State Superintendent on Status of Maryland’s Students
Coronavirus / County News / Education
Legislators Briefed by State Superintendent on Status of Maryland’s Students

On January 27, the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee hosted State Superintendent Mohammed Choudhury to discuss the current status Maryland students as education continues in the context of COVID-19. Choudhury also discussed implications of poverty on student success. During the January 27 briefing, State Superintendent Choudhury presented data showing the impact of pandemic learning on Maryland's public education. Notably, according to data, Maryland's students have dropped in proficiency in most subjects analyzed. Data…

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January 27, 2022
MACo Urges Local Flexibility for Solar Tax Breaks
County News / MACo Testimony / Taxes and Revenues
MACo Urges Local Flexibility for Solar Tax Breaks

MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally this week testified before the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee in support of SB 264 - Community Solar Energy Generating Systems - Exemption From Energy and Property Taxes with amendments. Under specified circumstances, this bill would exempt a community solar generating system from local energy and personal property taxes. MACo generally supports legislation that provides local autonomy to determine the best way to offer tax incentives, rather than those that mandate reductions…

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January 27, 2022
Counties: Election Laws Deserve Much-Needed Reboot
County News / Elections / MACo Testimony
Counties: Election Laws Deserve Much-Needed Reboot

MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally this week testified in support of SB 158 - State Board of Elections - Contracts and Invoices - Requirements before the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee. This bill, sponsored by Senator Cheryl Kagan, is a MACo Legislative initiative to clarify and update election laws emphasizing fairness, transparency, and accountability. By clarifying and codifying the 20-year precedent that governs the funding responsibility between the State and counties for voting machines…

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January 27, 2022
MACo Backs Necessary, Reasonable Flexibility for Mail-In Ballot Canvass
County News / Elections / MACo Testimony
MACo Backs Necessary, Reasonable Flexibility for Mail-In Ballot Canvass

MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally this week testified before the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee in support of SB 163 - Election Law – Ballots – Processing and Reporting Procedures with amendments. This bill would provide local boards of elections with necessary and reasonable flexibility to canvass mail-in ballots, avoiding administrative complications that could disrupt the timely certification of election results. MACo is working with the bill sponsor and Committee on technical amendments to clarify…

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January 27, 2022
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