County News / General Assembly News / MACo Events
MACo 2013 Summer Conference Session – Gazing into the Crystal Ball: Benefits of Long-term Budget Planning

Description: Building a multi-year plan for operating budgets is inconvenient, time-consuming, challenging and filled with uncertainty. There are lots of reasons not to take on the challenge, but building an operating plan will change the way you budget and help you to avoid the bad decisions made possible with year-by-year budgeting. Speaker:  Ted Zaleski, Director, Management & Budget, Carroll County Moderator:  TBD Date & Time:  Thursday, August 15, 2013; 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm MACo’s…

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June 7, 2013
County News / General Assembly News / MACo Events
MACo Seeking Legislative Initiative Proposals For 2014 General Assembly Session

The Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) is seeking proposals for consideration as 2014 legislative initiatives. Each year, MACo adopts up to four topics for specific focus during the session of the General Assembly. Past MACo initiatives have included a wide range of topics designed to improve county government services, enhance state support of joint programs, protect local land use authority, clarify or extend county authority, and defend county liability exposure. Typical initiatives call for MACo…

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June 7, 2013
General Assembly News / Taxes and Revenues
MACo Tax Initiative Signed Into Law

MACo's initiative to decouple the real and personal property taxes became law when the Governor signed HB1190 into law on May 2, joined by the President of the Senate, Mike Miller, and the Speaker of the House, Michael E. Busch. MACo's President, Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt, County Administrator R. Wayne Strausburg, Public Information Officer Tamara Lee-Brooks, and Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ernie Colburn joined MACo staff to witness the occasion. HB…

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May 16, 2013
Environment / General Assembly News
Governor O’Malley Signed Landmark Forest Legislation

On May 2, Governor O'Malley signed a piece of forest legislation into law.  The first-of-its-kind legislation amends Maryland’s forest conservation policy to maintain the State’s current 40 percent tree canopy ─ a no-net-loss. The bill establishes new and expanded reforestation incentives and tools to help landowners and local governments meet and surpass the statewide goal. In addition to the no-net-loss requirements, Maryland’s Forest Preservation Act of 2013 (House Bill 706) adds a dual sustainability certification…

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May 6, 2013
County News / General Assembly News / MACo Events
MACo Seeking Legislative Initiative Proposals For 2014 General Assembly Session

The Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) is seeking proposals for consideration as 2014 legislative initiatives. Each year, MACo adopts up to four topics for specific focus during the session of the General Assembly. Past MACo initiatives have included a wide range of topics designed to improve county government services, enhance state support of joint programs, protect local land use authority, clarify or extend county authority, and defend county liability exposure. Typical initiatives call for MACo…

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May 2, 2013
General Assembly News
House GOP Caucus Taps New Leaders Kipke, Szeliga

The Maryland House of Delegates' Minority Caucus, including 43 republican representatives in the chamber, has elected new leadership for the year ahead. Delegate Nicholaus Kipke of Anne Arundel County will serve as the Minority Leaders, and Delegate Kathy Szeliga, who represents a district including parts of Harford and Baltimore Counties, will serve as the new Minority Whip. From coverage in the Gazette: Kipke said he plans greater outreach out to center-right organizations throughout the state,…

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May 2, 2013
County Budgets / Education / General Assembly News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
2013 Session “90 Day Report” Available Online

The “90 Day Report” is now available online on the Maryland General Assembly website.  The Department of Legislative Services produces this report each year, which summarizes major issues discussed and/or enacted during the General Assembly session. Sections of particular interest to local governments are listed below. Budget and State Aid State Aid to Local Governments - a breakdown of operating and capital funding by county begins on page 94 Taxes Local Government Education

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April 18, 2013
General Assembly News / News You Can Use
Delegates DeBoy and Malone Will Not Seek Reelection

. . . . As reported in the Baltimore Sun, longtime Southwestern Baltimore County state Delegates James Malone and Steven DeBoy, who also serve parts of Howard County, both announced Monday that they will not seek reelection in 2014. As described in the Sun, Malone, 55, a retired Baltimore County firefighter, has been in the House of Delegates since 1994 and DeBoy, 57, a retired Baltimore County police officer, was elected in 2002.  "After serious…

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April 18, 2013
County News / General Assembly News
Robey Set to Retire After 48 Years of Public Service

Senator James Robey announced on April 16 that the 2014 General Assembly session will mark the end of his public service for Howard County.Senator Robey said,"I just feel like it's time to leave public service, I've given a lot, I just feel it's time to step aside and let someone else step in."The Baltimore Sun reportedRobey, 72, has served in the Senate since 2007 representing District 13, which covers much of southern Howard County.He previously…

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April 17, 2013
General Assembly News / Transportation and Public Works
2013 End of Session Wrap Up: Transportation and Public Works

This post summarizes the status of transportation and public works legislation that MACo either considered or took a position on. Transportation Facilities - Water Access: HB 797 would require local governments and the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), when developing a construction or improvement project involving a bridge or other facility that is adjacent to a waterway to consider any reasonable and appropriate measures to provide water access for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, or other nonmotorized recreational…

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April 9, 2013
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