Read more about the article Fiscal Reality Check: State Projects $1.4B Shortfall, With Deficits Climbing Toward $4B
Source: DLS
County Budgets / County News / Feature / General Assembly News / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Transportation and Public Works
Fiscal Reality Check: State Projects $1.4B Shortfall, With Deficits Climbing Toward $4B

Maryland’s budget picture has darkened. The Department of Legislative Services (DLS) informed lawmakers this week that the State now faces a $1.4 billion shortfall in fiscal 2027, nearly five times larger than the projection made in the spring. The updated forecast from DLS, presented to the Spending Affordability Committee, indicates that slower revenue growth, higher baseline costs, and statutory transfers to the Rainy Day Fund have significantly altered Maryland’s fiscal trajectory. From Surplus to Shortfall…

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November 12, 2025
Read more about the article Deep Dive: From Promise to Reversal — Maryland’s Last Stand for the FBI HQ
County News / Economic Development / Feature / NACo and Federal Issues / Policy Deep Dive
Deep Dive: From Promise to Reversal — Maryland’s Last Stand for the FBI HQ

This article is part of MACo's Policy Deep Dive series, where expert policy analysts explore and explain the top county policy issues of the day. Read all of MACo's Policy Deep Dives. A years-long effort to bring the FBI's new headquarters to Prince George's County has reached a turning point, one that could redefine Maryland's relationship with federal partners and the future of regional economic development. The Short Version The State of Maryland and Prince…

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November 6, 2025
Read more about the article Pitching Policy & Fielding a Federal Shutdown – A DC View with Congressman Johnny O
County Budgets / County News / Feature / Intergovernmental Relations / NACo and Federal Issues / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Pitching Policy & Fielding a Federal Shutdown – A DC View with Congressman Johnny O

A federal shutdown hits close to home in Maryland. This week, Congressman Johnny Olszewski, Jr. joins the Conduit Street Podcast to talk about the pressure on local governments, how his Baltimore County experience guides his work in Washington, DC, and why practical, bipartisan focus matters when residents feel the squeeze. 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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October 30, 2025
Read more about the article MACo Adopts 2026 Legislative Initiatives
County Budgets / County News / Feature / General Assembly News / Housing and Community Development / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Transportation and Public Works
MACo Adopts 2026 Legislative Initiatives

In the 2026 General Assembly Session, MACo will prioritize restoring Highway User Revenues to support safe, reliable local infrastructure, expanding local housing tools, rebalancing the State–local partnership for school construction, and protecting county budget security. This week, the MACo Legislative Committee adopted the Association’s Legislative Initiatives for the 2026 Maryland General Assembly Session. While the Committee will take positions on hundreds of bills, these four issues represent counties’ top priorities for the year. RESTORE HIGHWAY…

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October 29, 2025
Read more about the article See What’s In Store for Winter #MACoCon – View the Schedule and Session Details
Feature / Winter Conference
See What’s In Store for Winter #MACoCon – View the Schedule and Session Details

MACo’s Winter Conference, "Local Leadership, Lasting Impact: Shaping What’s Next,” will be held on Dec 10-12, 2025, at the Hyatt in Cambridge, MD. Don't miss this chance to be a part of the conversation as hundreds of leaders from across the state gather to discuss local priorities before heading into the 2026 legislative session. Our lowest rates end on Nov 7. REGISTER TODAY! County governments are on the front lines of delivering essential services during a…

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October 17, 2025
Read more about the article Counties Urge Swift End to Federal Shutdown
County News / Feature / Intergovernmental Relations / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use
Counties Urge Swift End to Federal Shutdown

The ongoing federal government shutdown is straining local economies and threatening essential services nationwide. Counties are urging a bipartisan solution to restore stability and protect the federal–state–local partnership that residents depend on. The National Association of Counties (NACo) this week issued a statement urging a swift, bipartisan resolution to the ongoing federal government shutdown, warning that lapses in operations undermine critical partnerships that counties depend on to serve residents effectively. NACo Executive Director Matthew Chase…

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October 16, 2025
Read more about the article MACo’s Fall Symposium: Counties Navigating Federal Crosscurrents
Feature / MACo Events
MACo’s Fall Symposium: Counties Navigating Federal Crosscurrents

Every year, MACo hosts a one-day symposium for county officials and professionals to dive deeply into a hot topic. The 2025 Fall Symposium will be held on October 23 and will focus on Counties Navigating Federal Crosscurrents. MACo Fall Symposium October 23, 2025 | 9:30 am - 3:00 pm Crowne Plaza Annapolis  Counties Navigating Federal Crosscurrents  Counties sit at the crossroads of federal policy and local impact. When Washington makes decisions on funding, regulations, or…

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October 7, 2025
Read more about the article Shutdown Countdown: State Leaders Outline Risks and Response
County News / Feature / General Assembly News / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use
Shutdown Countdown: State Leaders Outline Risks and Response

Maryland leaders outlined on Tuesday both the serious risks of a federal shutdown and the steps they are taking to manage its impact on workers, revenues, and local communities. Without a last-minute deal in Washington, the federal government will close at midnight. Update — October 1, 2025: The federal government officially shut down after Congress failed to reach a last-minute agreement. As the closure begins, the impacts described in Tuesday’s Joint Federal Action Oversight Committee…

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September 30, 2025
Read more about the article Deep Dive: Budget Brinkmanship — Q&A Explainer on Shutdown Stakes for Maryland
County News / Feature / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use / Policy Deep Dive
Deep Dive: Budget Brinkmanship — Q&A Explainer on Shutdown Stakes for Maryland

This article is part of MACo’s Policy Deep Dive series, where expert policy analysts explore and explain the top county policy issues of the day. Read all of MACo’s Policy Deep Dives. What happens if Congress misses the deadline to fund the government? Maryland counties, home to hundreds of thousands of federal workers and contractors, face another shutdown scenario that could disrupt paychecks, delay services, and squeeze local revenues. This Deep Dive explains the shutdown process,…

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September 29, 2025
Read more about the article State Revenue Update: Tepid Growth, Outlook Weakens
Source: Board of Revenue Estimates
County Budgets / County News / Feature / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
State Revenue Update: Tepid Growth, Outlook Weakens

Maryland ended fiscal 2025 with a $521 million surplus, but that good news didn’t carry over. The Board of Revenue Estimates (BRE) reduced projections for the years ahead, citing weaker income and sales tax collections, sliding corporate revenues, and the drag of federal job losses. Revenue Projections: From Strong Finish to Slower Growth The Board, which includes Comptroller Brooke Lierman, Treasurer Dereck Davis, and Department of Budget and Management Secretary Helene Grady, approved general fund…

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September 25, 2025
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