Read more about the article Fitch: Prolonged Federal Shutdown Could Pressure Public Finance Credits
Source: Maryland Department of Labor
County Budgets / County News / Finance and Procurement / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Fitch: Prolonged Federal Shutdown Could Pressure Public Finance Credits

Fitch Ratings cautions that while governments can manage a short shutdown, a lengthier disruption could ripple through housing, healthcare, higher education, transportation, local revenues, and economic growth — with potential negative credit consequences. Fitch Ratings released a new analysis this week, warning that a prolonged shutdown could erode public finance credit strength, straining budgets and weakening the long-term fiscal outlook for governments and nonprofits most reliant on federal support. A protracted shutdown could even trigger…

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October 2, 2025
Read more about the article Conduit Street Podcast: Revenues, Roads, and Rising Risks
County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Emergency Management / Finance and Procurement / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Transportation and Public Works
Conduit Street Podcast: Revenues, Roads, and Rising Risks

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson unpack Maryland’s fiscal outlook.   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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September 26, 2025
Read more about the article MDGFOA Fall Conference to Spotlight Revenue, Ethics, and Resilience
Finance and Procurement / News You Can Use / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
MDGFOA Fall Conference to Spotlight Revenue, Ethics, and Resilience

The Maryland Government Finance Officers Association (MDGFOA) will host its 2025 Fall Conference on Friday, October 24, at the Hilton Baltimore BWI Airport in Anne Arundel County. The conference theme, Innovating Government Finance: Ethics, Efficiency, and Economic Resilience, brings together state and local finance professionals for a full day of timely sessions, practical strategies, and networking opportunities. Attendees will hear from leading voices, including economist Anirban Basu of Sage Policy Group, who will deliver the…

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September 24, 2025
Read more about the article Queen Anne’s County Earns Fitch’s Highest Credit Rating
County Budgets / County News / Finance and Procurement
Queen Anne’s County Earns Fitch’s Highest Credit Rating

Fitch Ratings has affirmed Queen Anne’s County’s AAA credit rating and assigned the same rating to the County’s upcoming $35 million public facilities and refunding bonds. The outlook remains stable. The new bonds — scheduled for a competitive sale on October 1, 2025 — will fund capital projects and refund outstanding 2014 public facilities bonds for debt service savings. The rating reflects Fitch’s confidence in the County’s fiscal management and long-term resilience. Firm reserves, conservative…

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September 22, 2025
Read more about the article Worcester Finds New Purpose for Retired County Vehicles
County News / Education / Finance and Procurement
Worcester Finds New Purpose for Retired County Vehicles

Worcester County has donated four retired Chevy Tahoe SUVs to the Automotive Technology (AT) garage bays at Worcester Technical High School. The handover occurred after the Worcester County Commissioners voted unanimously to donate these high-mileage, county vehicles to the AT program instead of selling them for a nominal one-time return through an online auction marketplace. “While these aged vehicles may no longer meet county fleet needs, they run just fine and hold tremendous value as…

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September 18, 2025
Read more about the article Resource Roundup: Lilypad EV and Iron Mountain Join NACo’s Public Promise Procurement
County News / Finance and Procurement / Intergovernmental Relations / Transportation and Public Works
Resource Roundup: Lilypad EV and Iron Mountain Join NACo’s Public Promise Procurement

This publication, fueled by the National Association of Counties (NACo), highlights single-award contract opportunities, upcoming webinars, articles of interest, and other tools for county leaders and procurement professionals. The Newest Competitively-Bid Contract Awards Lilypad EV Lilypad EV is an industry pioneer in electric vehicle charging equipment & comprehensive solutions for community, public agency fleets, and workplace EV infrastructure. Their services include hardware, software, installation, maintenance, support, and operation of electric vehicle charging equipment and networks.…

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September 18, 2025
Read more about the article Fed Cuts Interest Rates for First Time in Nine Months
County News / Finance and Procurement
Fed Cuts Interest Rates for First Time in Nine Months

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates today for the first time in nearly a year, a modest move that could slightly ease borrowing costs across the economy while shaping fiscal and investment decisions for governments, businesses, and households. The Fed’s Decision The Federal Reserve reduced its benchmark federal funds rate by a quarter point, bringing it to a range of 4% to 4.25%. Today’s action marks the first cut since December 2024 and reflects the…

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September 17, 2025
Read more about the article Who’s Powering the Economy? New Data Shows It’s the Wealthy
Source: @Markzandi (via Twitter/X).
County Budgets / County News / Finance and Procurement / News You Can Use / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
Who’s Powering the Economy? New Data Shows It’s the Wealthy

A small share of wealthy households is carrying much of the nation’s consumer spending — and with it, the broader economy. New data from Moody’s Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi, based on the Federal Reserve’s Financial Accounts and Survey of Consumer Finance and updated through the second quarter of 2025, highlights a clear divide in how Americans are powering the economy.   Spending Patterns by Income Since the pandemic, households in the bottom 80% of…

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September 16, 2025
Read more about the article Live From Summer #MACoCon With Comptroller Brooke Lierman
County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Feature / Finance and Procurement / Housing and Community Development / Intergovernmental Relations / Summer Conference
Live From Summer #MACoCon With Comptroller Brooke Lierman

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, we bring you a special treat from the 2025 MACo Summer Conference, and it might involve MACo Executive Director Michael Sanderson taking a turn with the Crab Feast band! But the feature comes to us from a great 2025 #MACoCon 1-on-1 session is Comptroller Brooke Lierman.   Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in…

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August 22, 2025
Read more about the article #MACoCon Recap: Balancing State Policy and County Budgets
County Budgets / Finance and Procurement / Summer Conference
#MACoCon Recap: Balancing State Policy and County Budgets

When state tax policy shifts, county leaders feel it. At MACo’s 2025 Summer Conference, Robert Sandlass, Treasurer of Harford County, and Chief Deputy Comptroller Andrew Schaufele broke down the complex but critical connection between Maryland’s income tax decisions and local government budgets. Robert Sandlass portrayed how income taxes are the linchpin of county budgets. In Harford County, they represent 45% of the general fund but this source of revenue can be unpredictable. Using decades of…

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August 20, 2025
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