Howard County’s Spending Affordability Advisory Committee (SAAC) released its fiscal 2026 report, offering a measured approach to managing budgetary challenges and opportunities. With external pressures at the federal, state, and local levels, the committee recommends prudent budgeting, strategic capital investment, and focusing on long-term stability. A non-partisan body composed of residents representing different disciplines and areas of expertise and representation from educational entities, council staff, and executive staff, the SAAC provides policy advice to the…

As budget debates heat up in both Washington and Annapolis, one troubling pattern has emerged: cost-shifting. When federal and state leaders avoid tough fiscal decisions, the burden often "hot potatoes" into the hands of local governments, forcing difficult choices about taxes and essential services. For example, currently, Congress is debating a massive fiscal package with proposals that could drastically cut Medicaid funding. If they cut their federal contributions or reduce them, Maryland could face a…