Read more about the article How Howard County Is Reimagining the Response to Homelessness
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 Key Dates and Deadlines for the 2026 Legislative Session
County News / General Assembly News
Key Dates and Deadlines for the 2026 Legislative Session

The General Assembly session begins at noon on Wednesday, January 14, and spans 90 days, concluding at midnight on Monday, April 13. Here’s a look at some key milestone dates to watch for. The full calendar is available online here. Major dates of interest: January 23 (10th Day) — SENATE AND HOUSE BILL REQUEST GUARANTEE DATE Legislators seeking to introduce bills are asked to place requests with bill drafters by this time to guarantee delivery…

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December 31, 2025
Read more about the article 2026 Reassessment: Cooling Values, Still No Windfall for Counties
County News / News You Can Use / Taxes and Revenues
2026 Reassessment: Cooling Values, Still No Windfall for Counties

The Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) released its 2026 reassessment results for “Group 2” residential and commercial properties, showing continued growth in property values but at a slower pace than recent cycles. This reassessment does not translate into immediate or proportional increases in county revenues. Maryland’s property tax structure deliberately limits how quickly tax bills can rise, even when assessed values increase. For the 2026 reassessment, SDAT reports a 12.7 percent overall statewide…

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December 31, 2025
Read more about the article Fun Fact: This Tunnel Is One Of The Most Significant Engineering Features Along The C&O Canal
Paw Paw Tunnel. Image by - National Park Service | S. Spencer
County News / Fun Fact
Fun Fact: This Tunnel Is One Of The Most Significant Engineering Features Along The C&O Canal

The Paw Paw Tunnel in Allegany County, Maryland, is one of the most remarkable engineering accomplishments along the C&O Canal. Designed to eliminate the need for six additional miles of canal along a stretch of the Potomac River, the tunnel became one of the canal’s most significant construction challenges. Work on the Paw Paw Tunnel began in 1836 and was expected to take just two years. Instead, due to labor disputes, fights amongst workers, funding…

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December 30, 2025
Read more about the article 2026 Issue Preview: Housing Availability and Affordability
2026 MACo Issue Previews / County News
2026 Issue Preview: Housing Availability and Affordability

With the 2026 Legislative Session approaching, MACo is profiling major issues, including affordable housing, that stand to gather significant attention. Both the 2024 and 2025 legislative sessions saw an unprecedented amount of pro-growth, pro-housing development legislation. At the forefront of both sessions were several bills from the Governor, addressing topics including density bonuses, regulatory certainty, and other reforms. MACo also played a pivotal role, championing a historic slate of housing initiatives, including efforts to address…

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December 30, 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
Read more about the article Water, PFAS, and Climate Resilience: What Counties Need to Know
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
Read more about the article Live From Winter MACoCon: What’s Next for School Construction With Alex Donahue
County Budgets / County News / School Construction and Capital Budgets / Winter Conference
Live From Winter MACoCon: What’s Next for School Construction With Alex Donahue

Recorded live at MACo’s 2025 Winter Conference, this episode features an in-depth, candid conversation with Alex Donahue, Executive Director of the Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC), on one of the most pressing challenges facing Maryland counties: school construction.     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 19, 2025
Read more about the article Funding the Classroom Gap: A #MACoCon Conversation With School Construction Chief Alex Donahue
County News / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Winter Conference
Funding the Classroom Gap: A #MACoCon Conversation With School Construction Chief Alex Donahue

At the MACo Winter Conference, county leaders heard directly from Maryland's top school construction official as they confront a familiar challenge: school construction costs continue to rise faster than available capital, even as aging facilities, safety upgrades, and modern learning standards drive demand. MACo Executive Director Michael Sanderson moderated a candid, interview-style conversation with Alex Donahue, Executive Director of the Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC), during “From Policy to Progress: A Conversation About What’s…

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December 19, 2025
Read more about the article #MACoCon Recap: The Blueprint Beat Goes On…
County Budgets / County News / Education / Winter Conference
#MACoCon Recap: The Blueprint Beat Goes On…

As implementation continues, county and school leaders say the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is revealing growing gaps between statewide policy design and local fiscal and operational realities. The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future was built as a bold, statewide commitment to improving educational outcomes for every student. But as county leaders and school system officials made clear during MACo’s Winter Conference panel, "The Blueprint Beat Goes On…," translating a uniform funding formula into real-world success looks very…

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December 18, 2025
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