Engaging Employees and Retaining Talent at #MACoCon

At the MACo Winter Conference, panelists explored strategies to tackle workforce challenges and build a thriving team with engaged employees in county governments. County governments are tackling workforce challenges head-on, addressing recruitment hurdles, burnout, and retention struggles with innovative solutions. In this panel, experts shared how workplace flexibility, recognition programs, and career development initiatives are transforming employee engagement. Attendees heard presentations on cutting-edge benefits supporting work-life balance, mental health, and childcare and learned strategies to…

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Ballot Questions in Baltimore City See Mixed Results

Baltimore City voters went to the polls with 8 questions on the local ballot. Much attention centered around two measures that would have changed the size of the City Council and another that redefines the approved uses for current public park space in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Voters in Baltimore City had a number of questions to weigh in on this election cycle. Of those, one had the potential to impact the local government structure if…

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Cecil Voted To Approve Term Limits for County Executive Role

A county executive in Cecil may now serve no more than three consecutive four-year terms. Voters in Cecil approved Question C on the local ballot with 87 percent of voters in favor of the change. This amendment to the Cecil County Charter limits a county executive to serve no more than three consecutive four-year terms. Further the change clarifies that an individual appointed to the County executive role who serves less than two years will…

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Cecil County 2024 Election Roundup

In Cecil County’s decisive local elections, Republican candidates secured key leadership positions, with newcomers Adam Streight and Dawn Branch unseating incumbents in a sweeping victory. County Executive Adam Streight (R), who defeated incumbent County Executive Danielle Hornberger in the primary election, secured his win with 71.59 percent of the vote (28,853), while William Bill Kilby (D) follows with 27.65 percent (11,144 votes). Write-ins accounted for 0.76 percent (308 votes). County Council District 1 Bob Meffley…

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Charles County Voters Reject Move to Charter Government

Charles County will remain a "code home rule" commissioner county, after voters rejected a ballot measure to form a two-branch charter government. Voters rejected a proposed charter government structure for Charles County, a process authorized under the Maryland Constitution, and will retain their County Commissioner government structure. The measure was defeated by a nearly 56-44 margin, through published results received so far. This marks the second time that Charles County voters have spurned a proposed…

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Conduit Street Podcast: A Neighborly Chat With the Pennsylvania County Association

In this week's episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, MACo's Michael Sanderson connects with his Pennsylvania counterpart, Lisa Schaefer. She guides the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, which serves and represents its 64 county members.

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NACo Webinar: Sustaining County Government Workforce with AI

Join the National Association of Counties (NACo) on June 6th for a free webinar on Doing More with Less: Sustaining Government Workforce with Artificial Intelligence. Sustaining the County Government Workforce with Artificial Intelligence (AI) webinar will help attendees learn how AI and modern technologies are note merely tools for keeping pace with change but are strategic imperatives for sustaining and empowering the county government workforce. The webinar will take place from 1:00pm to 2:00 pm. EDT.…

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FY 2024 County Employee Salaries, Benefits, and Pensions Report

Comprehensive Report on County Employee Salaries, Benefits, and Pensions: New Data and Insights for FY 2024 Every year, Human Resources Officers from each jurisdiction provides information on salaries, health benefits, and employee retirement plans & pensions.  New additions to the survey in FY 2024 are: Average hourly salary Weekly base hours Number of employees on county payroll New pay practices and recruitment/retention efforts Innovative measures implemented to control medical/prescription benefit costs for employees, retirees,  and…

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Dorchester County Welcomes Jerry Jones as County Manager

Dorchester County Government has announced Woodrow “Jerry” Jones III as their new County Manager. Mr. Jones was appointed by the Dorchester County Council and will serve as the lead administrator for all government operations. Mr. Jones will be responsible for leading the administration and functions of all departments, agencies, and offices of the Government, as well as the care and custody of Government buildings and all real property of the County. The Council will rely…

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