Feature Archives

Meet MACo’s New Member Services & Events Coordinator!

MACo is very pleased to announce that Abbey Duncan has joined our team in the role of Member Services & Events Coordinator! Abigail "Abbey" Duncan joins the MACo team this week, bringing her experience in event planning and guest relations to support MACo's members in our Member Services & Events Coordinator role. In that role, she will focus on member engagement and education, coordinating MACo's affiliate conferences, symposium, and other meetings and events. Abbey is…

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March 16, 2026

MACo to MSDE: Private Pre-K Details Weeks Overdue as County Budget Deadlines Approach

Below is the full text of a letter sent Tuesday, March 10, 2026, from the Maryland Association of Counties to the Maryland State Department of Education, the Maryland State Board of Education, and the Blueprint for Maryland's Future Accountability and Implementation Board regarding the local share of funding for private prekindergarten expansion in Maryland. The Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) writes on behalf of Maryland’s 24 county governments regarding the continued delay in issuing invoices…

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March 11, 2026

County Budgets / County News / Feature / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues

State Revenue Forecast Improves for Now, Softens Ahead

Maryland’s latest revenue forecast boosts revenues for the current fiscal year by $355.7 million but lowers projections for fiscal 2027 by $108.0 million as budget pressures continue to build. The Maryland Board of Revenue Estimates (BRE) released its March update today, revising the State’s revenue projections as lawmakers continue to navigate a challenging fiscal environment. The latest forecast increases expected revenues for the current fiscal year by $355.7 million, while projections for fiscal 2027 decline…

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March 11, 2026

Feature / MACo Testimony / State Budget and Fiscal Issues

MACo: State Budget Plan Pressures Counties Toward Higher Taxes or Service Cuts

On March 4, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the Budget and Taxation Committee in support of HB 392 - Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2026 with amendments. The BRFA shifts tens of millions of dollars in new, ongoing obligations onto county governments while limiting formula-driven State support. Taken together, these provisions place growing pressure on county budgets amid economic uncertainty, federal funding instability, and limited local revenue flexibility. Speaking on behalf of county…

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March 6, 2026

County Budgets / County News / Feature / General Assembly News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues

DLS Fiscal Briefing Warns of Mounting Cost Shifts and Budget Gaps

This week, the Department of Legislative Services (DLS) presented its annual fiscal briefing to the General Assembly’s budget committees. The briefing outlined the governor’s proposed fiscal 2027 operating and capital budgets, State aid to local governments, and Maryland’s broader economic and revenue outlook. As previously reported on Conduit Street, Governor Wes Moore’s $70.8 billion fiscal 2027 budget closes a projected $1.5 billion shortfall through fund transfers, capped formulas, and cost shifts rather than long-term structural…

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January 27, 2026

County Budgets / County News / Feature / General Assembly News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues

Governor Moore’s Fiscal 2027 Budget: Navigating County Effects

This week, Governor Wes Moore introduced a $70.8 billion fiscal 2027 spending plan that, according to the administration, expands funding for housing, education, and public safety while closing a projected $1.5 billion shortfall without increasing taxes or fees. The governor's budget increases aid flowing through county governments, but it does not resolve the underlying pressures counties face or meaningfully realign State funding with county responsibilities. Education funding continues to grow, and transportation aid remains temporarily…

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January 22, 2026

Corporate Partners / County News / Feature / NACo and Federal Issues

Counties Gain Access to New P-Card Procurement Contract

Counties now have a new opportunity to streamline purchasing operations through a cooperative procurement vehicle backed by county leadership and national partners. Fairfax County, Virginia has launched a new solicitation for P-Card and Payables Solutions, which, once awarded, will be made available to counties nationwide through Public Promise Procurement (PPP). As an endorsing partner of PPP, the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) is helping ensure Maryland counties are aware of this opportunity and can take…

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January 21, 2026

County News / Economic Development / Feature

MACo Highlights County Role in MD’s Economic Future at MEDA Winter Conference

On January 15, MACo Executive Director Michael Sanderson joined state and regional economic leaders as a panelist at the Maryland Economic Development Association’s (MEDA) 2026 Winter Conference for a session titled “2026 Legislative Outlook for Economic Development.” The conference provided a timely forum for public- and private-sector leaders to examine Maryland’s economic competitiveness and discuss policy priorities likely to shape the 2026 legislative session, particularly as the State confronts a looming budget deficit and slowing…

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January 15, 2026

Agriculture / Environment / Feature / News You Can Use

Maryland Agriculture Land Preservation Foundation Now Accepting Applications

The Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF) Program is now accepting applications for the Fiscal Year 2027 Easement Cycle. Eligibility requirements include a minimum of 50 contiguous acres, land outside of the 10-year water and sewer plan for the county, and a minimum of 50% Class I, II or III soils. For more information on eligibility and the MALPF easement acquisition process, visit https://mda.maryland.gov/malpf/Pages/Fact-Sheets.aspx The mission of MALPF is: to preserve productive farmland and woodland for the…

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January 15, 2026

Feature / Winter Conference

Employment Practices and Legal Considerations

The Academy Course - Employment Issues provided valuable insight into preferred employment practices and the legal restrictions associated with hiring, termination, promotion, and employee discipline. Emphasis was placed on risk management strategies, including recruitment practices, employee supervision, and effective documentation. Mr. Karpinski highlighted the importance of consistency in employment actions, noting supervisors must consider whether their decisions are equitable and uniformly applied across all employees. Speaker: Kevin Karpinski, Partner, Karpinski, Cornbrooks…

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December 17, 2025