Employee Benefits and Relations / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
$15 Minimum Wage Bill Heading to Governor Hogan

The General Assembly has passed its own final version of the "Fight for Fifteen" Minimum Wage Bill With Veto-Proof Support Levels On Wednesday, March 20, both the House and Senate passed their respective versions of the $15 minimum wage bill, thus sending the "enrolled" bill to the Governor. Under the Constitution, he has a limited window of time (six days, not including Sundays) to decide whether to veto the bill, and would have to do…

Comments Off on $15 Minimum Wage Bill Heading to Governor Hogan
March 20, 2019
LGIT – FY20 Regional Workshops – Register Today!
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / MACo Events
LGIT – FY20 Regional Workshops – Register Today!

WHAT? The Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT) will host a series of renewal workshops for the Policy Year 2020. This year's workshop agenda: Agenda 9:00 am - 9:10 am          Welcoming Remarks 9:10 am - 9:30 am          Rate Information & Credits for FY20 9:30 am - 10:15 am       Coverage Changes/Coverages Available/Renewal 10:15 am - 10:45 am     Changes & Updates to LGIT's HR Portal/Online Campus 10:45 am - 11:00…

Comments Off on LGIT – FY20 Regional Workshops – Register Today!
March 18, 2019
Keep “Cadillac Tax” in the Garage, National Advocates Urge Congress
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / NACo and Federal Issues
Keep “Cadillac Tax” in the Garage, National Advocates Urge Congress

A tax on healthcare plans that would penalize many county employers is set to go into effect in 2022. The National Association of Counties has joined 500 other organizations in a letter to Congress, requesting repeal of a provision that would charge a fee to employers providing healthcare benefits to their employees that are over a certain low threshold of coverage. The "Cadillac Tax," as it is called, was designed to help subsidize the Affordable…

Comments Off on Keep “Cadillac Tax” in the Garage, National Advocates Urge Congress
March 12, 2019
Employee Benefits and Relations / Labor / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
$15 Minimum Wage, Slowed and Amended, Moves to House Floor

A House Committee has given preliminary approval to an amended version of the $15 minimum wage proposal. HB 166, proposing to phase-in a $15 minmum wage across Maryland, has gotten its first stamp of approval. The House Economic Matters Committee voted 17-7 to pass an amended version of the bill, and send that report to the floor of the House of Delegates for a full vote. The bill is likely to come up whit week…

Comments Off on $15 Minimum Wage, Slowed and Amended, Moves to House Floor
February 26, 2019
Allan Kittleman Confirmed For Workers’ Comp Commission
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Labor
Allan Kittleman Confirmed For Workers’ Comp Commission

The Senate, on Friday, February 1, consented to the Gubernatorial appointment of Allan Kittleman as a Member of the State Worker's Compensation Commission. Kittleman, former Howard County Executive, will serve the remainder of a 12-year appointment, which began on February 1, 2008. Allan H. Kittleman, a lifelong Howard County resident, was elected in 2014 as the ninth County Executive, pledging improved transparency, strong fiscal management, and bipartisanship. He had previously also served as a member…

Comments Off on Allan Kittleman Confirmed For Workers’ Comp Commission
February 1, 2019
U.S. Employers Add 304,000 Jobs in January; Unemployment at 4%
Business Affairs / County News / Labor / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use
U.S. Employers Add 304,000 Jobs in January; Unemployment at 4%

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 304,000 in January, and the unemployment rate edged up to 4.0 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The United States Department of Labor this morning released its monthly estimate of hiring, unemployment, and wages for January. The report provides a crucial snapshot of the American economy. Despite the partial federal government shutdown, a slowing global economy, and trade tensions with China, employers added 304,000 jobs in January, marking a 100th straight…

Comments Off on U.S. Employers Add 304,000 Jobs in January; Unemployment at 4%
February 1, 2019
Employee Benefits and Relations
New Jersey’s $15 Minimum Wage Now Looking Likely

An apparent political deal among policy leaders in New Jersey has one of Maryland's near-neighbors likely to phase in a $15 minimum wage. The New York Times reports that Governor Philip Murphy (D) and legislative leaders have worked out differences on varying proposals for an increase to a statewide minimum wage of $15. From their article: The agreement, which would raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2024, would place New Jersey among the most…

Comments Off on New Jersey’s $15 Minimum Wage Now Looking Likely
January 22, 2019
Conduit Street Podcast: Clues to Hogan’s Budget Proposal, Economic Uncertainty Looming, and the Latest from #MDGA19
County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Education / General Assembly News / Labor / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
Conduit Street Podcast: Clues to Hogan’s Budget Proposal, Economic Uncertainty Looming, and the Latest from #MDGA19

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: Governor Hogan Previews 2020 Budget Proposal Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Federal Government Shutdown: State, Local Governments Feel the Pinch Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Maryland Counties Rally…

Comments Off on Conduit Street Podcast: Clues to Hogan’s Budget Proposal, Economic Uncertainty Looming, and the Latest from #MDGA19
January 18, 2019
The ‘A to T’ of County Government Salaries
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations
The ‘A to T’ of County Government Salaries

A survey of county government salaries reveals the breadth of services Maryland counties provide residents. The annual salary survey includes county jobs from A to T, that is to say, from Departments of Aging to Tourism Offices. While some seek out the salary survey each year as a tool for comparing their salaries with those working in a county across the street, or a county across the Bay, as the MACo staff person who has…

Comments Off on The ‘A to T’ of County Government Salaries
January 17, 2019
County Health Benefits Reach Beyond Standard Health Insurance
Employee Benefits and Relations
County Health Benefits Reach Beyond Standard Health Insurance

Access MACo's annual survey for insurance rates and coverage information for county employees and county government retirees throughout Maryland. The fiscal 2019 survey of county government health benefits is available. This survey compiles county-by-county information regarding insurance options that county employers provide to their employees in each county in Maryland, Baltimore City, and the Maryland National Capital Parks and Planning Commission. The health benefits survey includes detailed health insurance information about deductibles, co-pays, and maximums…

Comments Off on County Health Benefits Reach Beyond Standard Health Insurance
January 16, 2019
Older Posts →

© 2019 All rights reserved

Close Menu