Read more about the article NACo: Modernizing County Finance with Digital Disbursements
County News / Finance and Procurement / Information Technology / MACo Events / NACo and Federal Issues
NACo: Modernizing County Finance with Digital Disbursements

The National Association of Counties (NACo) hosts free webinars to provide county leaders and professionals with knowledge on best practices and hot topics in various areas. Join NACo on April 30th to discover how incorporating digital payments can increase constituents’ satisfaction and improve government efficiency. This session will provide an in-depth overview of the successful pilot project by Knox County, Ill., the National Association of Counties (NACo), and Visa, sharing how they delivered fast and…

Comments Off on NACo: Modernizing County Finance with Digital Disbursements
April 30, 2024
Read more about the article Demographics, Environment, Technology All Pose Public Budgeting Challenges
Human Resources / Information Technology / Intergovernmental Relations / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
Demographics, Environment, Technology All Pose Public Budgeting Challenges

Public budgeting - broadly speaking, providing services based on revenues attached to economic activity - is likely to face challenges from several emerging trends. An analysis looking at "state budgets" likely had comparable considerations for county fiscal leaders, too. The Pew Trusts, through its project on "Managing Fiscal Risks" lays out a series of ways that state budgets, and likely all public spending plans, will face new challenges in the years ahead. From an article…

Comments Off on Demographics, Environment, Technology All Pose Public Budgeting Challenges
April 26, 2024
Read more about the article Carroll County Launches Broadband Expansion Grant Program
Broadband / County News / Economic Development / Information Technology / News You Can Use
Carroll County Launches Broadband Expansion Grant Program

Carroll County has announced the "Difficult to Serve – Long Driveway Grant Program," effective immediately. The county applied and received a grant from the State of Maryland for the FY24 Home Stretch – Difficult to Serve Properties Grant.  In an effort to provide internet to the unserved areas of the county, this grant provides funding assistance up to $14,000 to connect qualifying homes with driveways longer than an internet service provider will connect “for free”…

Comments Off on Carroll County Launches Broadband Expansion Grant Program
April 25, 2024
Read more about the article 2024 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups
Cannabis / County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Education / Elections / Emergency Management / Employee Benefits and Relations / Energy / Environment / Feature / Finance and Procurement / General Assembly News / Government Liability and Courts / Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development / Information Technology / Intergovernmental Relations / News You Can Use / Parks and Recreation / Pensions & Public Funds / Planning and Zoning / Public Information and Ethics / Public Safety and Corrections / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues / Transportation and Public Works
2024 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups

Catch up on all of the latest outcomes of the 2024 Maryland General Assembly session with wrap-ups on important county-related bills in each policy area. Maryland’s 446th legislative session convened amidst a substantial concern over the State’s fiscal situation, with weakened revenues and cost increases for many services at every level of government. Despite the budgetary limitations, many policy issues received a full debate, with many resolutions arising from the 90-day annual process. MACo’s legislative…

Comments Off on 2024 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups
April 12, 2024
Read more about the article 2024 End of Session Wrap-Up: Information Technology
Broadband / Cyber / General Assembly News / Information Technology / MACo Testimony
2024 End of Session Wrap-Up: Information Technology

The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo's advocacy on IT/cybersecurity issues in the 2024 General Assembly.  Hackers are increasingly targeting states and local governments with sophisticated cyberattacks. Securing government information systems is critical, as a cyber intrusion can be very disruptive, jeopardizing sensitive information, public safety, and delivering essential services. As such, MACo's advocacy focuses on bolstering support for local cybersecurity efforts and ensuring a strategic, coordinated, and flexible approach to enhancing cybersecurity…

Comments Off on 2024 End of Session Wrap-Up: Information Technology
April 11, 2024
Read more about the article Harford County Launches Free Mental Health App for First Responders
County News / Cyber / Emergency Management / Employee Benefits and Relations / Health and Human Services / Information Technology
Harford County Launches Free Mental Health App for First Responders

Harford County launches Lighthouse Health and Wellness, a free mental health and wellness app for first responders. First responders regularly face life-or-death situations, putting them at a higher risk for mental health issues. With more than 2,800 career and volunteer fire and EMS responders, 911 telecommunicators, and law enforcement officers in Harford County, the Cassilly administration is offering a new app to help support their physical and mental health. The Lighthouse Health and Wellness app…

Comments Off on Harford County Launches Free Mental Health App for First Responders
April 4, 2024
Read more about the article Cyber Threat Preparedness: LGIT to Host Cyber Coverage Essentials Webinar
Cyber / Information Technology / Intergovernmental Relations / News You Can Use / Risk Management
Cyber Threat Preparedness: LGIT to Host Cyber Coverage Essentials Webinar

Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT) will be hosting a cyber security webinar on April 24, 2024, 11:00 am – 12:00pm In this webinar, they will outline their cyber insurance program, covering available coverages, liability limits, endorsements, and other resources to strengthen your preparedness. They will also detail the procedure for reporting cyber claims in the unfortunate event of a cyber attack. The webinar will feature a Q & A opportunity with guest speakers Scott Soderstrom,…

Comments Off on Cyber Threat Preparedness: LGIT to Host Cyber Coverage Essentials Webinar
April 3, 2024
Read more about the article Baltimore City Mayor Issues AI Executive Order
County News / Cyber / Employee Benefits and Relations / Information Technology / News You Can Use
Baltimore City Mayor Issues AI Executive Order

Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott has issued an executive order designed to govern the use and development of artificial intelligence (AI) within city operations. This is to ensure the responsible use of generative AI tools as they become more prolific and offer additional opportunities to support government services. "City government has routinely played catch-up in terms of technology, but this administration is trying to change that. We know that artificial intelligence is moving incredibly…

Comments Off on Baltimore City Mayor Issues AI Executive Order
March 21, 2024
Read more about the article MACo to State: Strong Partnership Bolsters Cybersecurity
Cyber / Information Technology / MACo Testimony
MACo to State: Strong Partnership Bolsters Cybersecurity

On March 7, 2024, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee in support of SB 981 - Local Cybersecurity Preparedness and Local Cybersecurity Support Fund - Alterations with amendments. This bill generally modifies and expands the purpose of the Local Cybersecurity Support Fund. MACo requests amendments to bolster support for local cybersecurity efforts and ensure a strategic, coordinated, and flexible approach to enhancing cybersecurity preparedness across the state.…

Comments Off on MACo to State: Strong Partnership Bolsters Cybersecurity
March 8, 2024
Read more about the article Montgomery County Relaunches Free Computer Distribution Program for Low-Income Residents
Broadband / County News / Education / Information Technology / News You Can Use
Montgomery County Relaunches Free Computer Distribution Program for Low-Income Residents

“Montgomery Connects,” Montgomery County’s digital equity and inclusion program, has launched a new program to distribute 60,000 free laptop computers to low-income families. There is a limit of one computer per resident. Eligible recipients must be Maryland residents, do not need to be U.S. citizens and may not have already received a computer from the County before April 2023. Residents must make an appointment online, certify that they do not have access to a computer,…

Comments Off on Montgomery County Relaunches Free Computer Distribution Program for Low-Income Residents
February 8, 2024
Older Posts