NACo and Federal Issues Archives

New NACo Partnership Transforms Public Sector Hiring – Saves Counties Time & Money!

WBCP, a premier executive recruitment and HR consulting firm specializing in the public sector, has been awarded an exclusive national cooperative agreement through the National Association of Counties (NACo) Public Promise Procurement (PPP) program. This partnership allows public agencies nationwide to satisfy the traditional RFP process and gain immediate access to WBCP’s best-in-class recruitment and consulting services. This streamlined approach ensures faster hiring, full regulatory compliance, and significant taxpayer savings. “Public sector hiring presents unique…

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February 21, 2025

County Budgets / Feature / NACo and Federal Issues / State Budget and Fiscal Issues

Federal Budget Threats Could Deepen State Budget Woes, Squeeze Counties

Congress holds Maryland’s fiscal future in its hands as budget talks drag into spring. Proposed cuts to healthcare, education, and infrastructure, combined with a looming shutdown in March, add new strain to an already fragile budget. As previously reported on Conduit Street, Governor Wes Moore’s plan includes $2 billion in spending reductions, revenue enhancements, cost shifts to local governments, fund transfers, and a lower Rainy Day Fund balance. However, Senate President Bill Ferguson warned that federal…

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February 21, 2025

County Budgets / Feature / General Assembly News / NACo and Federal Issues / Taxes and Revenues

Senate President Ferguson Warns of Deeper Cuts as Federal Policies Squeeze Maryland’s Budget

Federal policy shifts are adding new strain to Maryland’s already precarious fiscal outlook, forcing General Assembly leaders to consider deeper budget cuts beyond the $2 billion in reductions, cost shifts, and fund transfers already on the table. As previously reported on Conduit Street, Governor Wes Moore’s plan includes $2 billion in spending reductions, revenue enhancements, cost shifts to local governments, fund transfers, and a lower Rainy Day Fund balance. However, Senate President Bill Ferguson warned…

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February 7, 2025

County Budgets / County News / Finance and Procurement / NACo and Federal Issues

NACo’s Expanding Procurement Opportunities for Counties

The National Association of Counties (NACo) Public Promise Procurement (PPP) program offers a powerful solution by providing counties with cooperative purchasing contracts tailored to their needs. What is Public Promise Procurement? The PPP is a collaborative initiative that streamlines local government purchasing. The program leverages NACo’s vast national network. Through this channel, counties can access and competitively bid for contracts that ensure cost savings, efficiency, and compliance with procurement regulations. How Counties Benefit Through the…

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February 5, 2025

NACo and Federal Issues

Federal Funding Freeze: What’s the Latest?

In a tumultuous week for the federal/state/local partnership, a proposed "pause" of a wide range of federal grant and loan programs created a stir across many services delivered by state and local governments, with federal support as an essential pillar. A flurry of memoranda and legal filings have yielded a short-term stalemate (with the "pause" itself now on pause). A longer-term resolution likely coming in the weeks ahead. A brief narrative of this week's fast-moving…

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January 31, 2025

County News / Housing and Community Development / NACo and Federal Issues

Calling All Counties! NACo Housing Solutions Program

Housing is a key component of economic mobility, yet it continues to be a challenge for many residents. NACo’s Counties for Housing Solutions (C4HS) program offers free three-month technical assistance sprints to address this challenge by helping counties increase local housing supply. In partnership with Smart Growth America, these sprints are designed to be high-intensity and implementation-focused and will draw upon recommendations made by NACo’s 2023 Housing Task Force. NACo has opened applications for its second Counties…

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January 31, 2025

Agriculture / Courts / Economic Development / Education / Elections / Emergency Management / Environment / Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development / Intergovernmental Relations / NACo and Federal Issues / Public Safety and Corrections / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Transportation and Public Works

Federal Funding Freeze – NACo Webinar Tomorrow (Jan 29)

President Trump has announced a "freeze" on a very wide range of federal grant and loan funding. This has potentially major effects on the operation of county-level facilities and services nationwide. Specifics are not yet clear. However, the National Association of Counties (NACo) will take up this topic and other federal-relations matters on tomorrow's "First 100 Days" Zoom Webinar. The President's order, nominally effective at close-of-business today (January 28), has cast a stunning pause on…

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January 28, 2025

Read more about the article Congress Stalls, Maryland Braces for Shutdown Fallout

Source: Office of the Maryland Comptroller

County News / NACo and Federal Issues / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues

Congress Stalls, Maryland Braces for Shutdown Fallout

Update: December 22, 2o24 Congress has passed the American Relief Act, 2025, a comprehensive funding bill that prevents a government shutdown and addresses a range of priorities. This new legislation, signed into law by the President, extends federal funding through March 14, 2025, and secures significant resources for disaster recovery, infrastructure, public health, and economic resilience. The bill, among other provisions, provides full federal funding to replace the Francis Scott Key Bridge, authorizes the transfer of…

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December 19, 2024

County News / Emergency Management / Feature / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Transportation and Public Works

Deal to Avert Federal Shutdown Secures Full Funding to Rebuild Key Bridge

Update: December 22, 2024 Congress has passed the American Relief Act, 2025, a comprehensive funding bill that prevents a government shutdown and addresses a range of priorities. This new legislation, signed into law by the President, extends federal funding through March 14, 2025, and secures significant resources for disaster recovery, infrastructure, public health, and economic resilience. The bill, among other provisions, provides full federal funding to replace the Francis Scott Key Bridge, authorizes the transfer of…

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December 17, 2024

Read more about the article Fiscal Fallout: How Federal and State Shifts Impact County Budgets

Delegate Mike Griffith

County Budgets / NACo and Federal Issues / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Winter Conference

Fiscal Fallout: How Federal and State Shifts Impact County Budgets

At the MACo Winter Conference, experts unpacked the fiscal challenges and opportunities facing local governments in light of federal elections and State policy shifts. The session highlighted how counties can prepare for funding uncertainties, policy changes, and evolving economic landscapes. Delegate Mike Griffith led the conversation and moderated an informative Q&A at the “Fiscal Fallout: Navigating the Federal Election and State Shifts” session, which included an in-depth discussion of strategies to ensure fiscal resilience and…

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December 17, 2024