Read more about the article Kettl: Feds Have Critical Role in Disaster Response
Emergency Management / NACo and Federal Issues
Kettl: Feds Have Critical Role in Disaster Response

Donald Kettl, a one-time Dean of the University of Maryland School of Public Policy (and champion of the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance), offers views in Governing magazine that a proposed elimination of the Federal Emergency Management Administration would surely backfire as soon as its first true emergency situation. In a column on Governing, Dean Kettl offers his views on the realistic situation around federal response to emergencies, citing numerous incidents where the theoretical…

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April 17, 2025
Read more about the article Free Webinar April 23 — Social Security: The Choice of a Lifetime
Employee Benefits and Relations / NACo and Federal Issues
Free Webinar April 23 — Social Security: The Choice of a Lifetime

Nationwide, a collaborating partner with both the National Association of Counties and MACo, is presenting a series of webinars targeting public workforce issues. The latest free offering, next week, focuses on the post-employment decision to opt into Social Security at different ages. Social Security: The Choice of a Lifetime Webinar Details: Wednesday, April 23, 2025 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET Register online = = = = = = = = = = = =…

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April 17, 2025
Read more about the article Could Federal Medicaid Cuts Create a New $2 Billion Maryland Problem?
Health and Human Services / NACo and Federal Issues / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Could Federal Medicaid Cuts Create a New $2 Billion Maryland Problem?

With a budget framework advancing through the US Congress, stakeholder groups are analyzing the potential effects once the general targets become actual policy proposals. Among them is a ten-year reduction of $880 billion, in a subject area that is overwhelmingly occupied by Medicaid services to Americans. One analysis suggests that such cuts, if made to Medicaid, could create a $2 billion chasm in the Maryland state budget, atop the already-stressed State fiscal plans. Republican lawmakers…

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April 15, 2025
Read more about the article White House Order Prompts New Conditions on Elections and Voting Systems
Elections / NACo and Federal Issues
White House Order Prompts New Conditions on Elections and Voting Systems

President Trump's sweeping executive order on Tuesday, March 25, directs federal agencies to enforce federal election laws more aggressively and imposes new conditions on funding, data sharing, and election system certification. The order outlines significant changes that could affect how Maryland counties support and administer elections. The executive order directs the Election Assistance Commission to revise the national mail voter registration form to require documentary proof of citizenship, such as a passport. It also pressures…

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March 27, 2025
Read more about the article Treasury Moves to Reclaim Unused ARPA Funds, Launches Compliance Actions
Coronavirus / County Budgets / Finance and Procurement / NACo and Federal Issues
Treasury Moves to Reclaim Unused ARPA Funds, Launches Compliance Actions

The US Department of the Treasury has issued a formal alert to Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) recipients, signaling a more aggressive posture on compliance reviews and recoupment efforts tied to the December 31, 2024, obligation deadline. Counties that received SLFRF allocations under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) are now subject to heightened scrutiny. Treasury has clarified that it will recoup any funds not properly obligated by the deadline and recover funds…

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March 27, 2025
Read more about the article Federal Executive Order Shifts Disaster Preparations to States and Counties
Emergency Management / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use
Federal Executive Order Shifts Disaster Preparations to States and Counties

A new executive order shifts disaster preparedness responsibilities from the federal government to state and local governments, raising concerns about funding gaps, emergency response capacity, and long-term recovery efforts. The order, signed by President Trump earlier this week, directs a review of infrastructure and risk policies, creates a National Risk Register, and calls for states and local governments to take a more significant role in disaster planning. However, it provides no federal commitment to maintain…

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March 20, 2025
Read more about the article Moody’s: Federal Cuts Put Maryland’s Economy at Greatest Risk
County Budgets / County News / General Assembly News / NACo and Federal Issues / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
Moody’s: Federal Cuts Put Maryland’s Economy at Greatest Risk

Maryland’s economy faces mounting uncertainty as federal job reductions, contracting cutbacks, and shifting federal priorities threaten to shrink the state’s tax base and strain county budgets. A new analysis from Moody’s (paywalled) confirmed that no state faces greater risk from federal retrenchment than Maryland. As previously reported on Conduit Street, with 161,000 federal civilian jobs and another 250,000 Marylanders working in Washington, DC, the state’s economy depends heavily on federal wages. As federal workforce reductions…

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March 11, 2025
Read more about the article How Counties Can Benefit From NACo’s AI Leadership Academy
Cyber / Education / Information Technology / Intergovernmental Relations / Leadership / NACo and Federal Issues
How Counties Can Benefit From NACo’s AI Leadership Academy

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is quickly changing how governments operate, and counties are no exception to this evolution. Through the National Association of Counties (NACo) AI Leadership Academy, counties can stay ahead of the curve! The NACo AI Leadership Academy is a six-week, fully facilitated online program designed to equip county leaders with the tools and knowledge needed to leverage AI for better governance. County Benefits Increased Efficiency – AI can streamline county operations, automate routine…

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March 5, 2025
Read more about the article DC’s Deepening Local Fiscal Crisis Spells Trouble for Maryland
County Budgets / County News / Feature / NACo and Federal Issues / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
DC’s Deepening Local Fiscal Crisis Spells Trouble for Maryland

Washington, DC's deepening local fiscal crisis may spell trouble for Maryland, which faces mounting challenges — federal funding cuts, slowing state revenues, and growing local burdens create uncertainty for policymakers and new financial pressures for counties. Washington, DC’s latest revenue forecast signals deepening economic challenges that could soon play out in Maryland. The District sharply lowered its projections, citing federal job losses, weaker income tax growth, and slowing consumer spending. Unlike past downturns, these declines…

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March 3, 2025
Read more about the article Feds Withhold $330M in Maryland Transportation Funding
Environment / NACo and Federal Issues / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Transportation and Public Works
Feds Withhold $330M in Maryland Transportation Funding

Maryland’s transportation infrastructure faces an unexpected setback as the federal government withholds $330 million in previously approved grant funding for roughly 30 projects across the state. The funding freeze affects a range of critical initiatives, including efforts to expand electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, upgrade highways, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the Port of Baltimore. As previously reported on Conduit Street, Congress holds Maryland’s fiscal future in its hands as budget talks drag into spring.…

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February 28, 2025
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