Read more about the article SCOTUS Curtails EPA Water Protection Powers
Environment / Intergovernmental Relations / NACo and Federal Issues
SCOTUS Curtails EPA Water Protection Powers

A ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States greatly curtailed the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to police water pollution.  In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court of the United States greatly curtailed the EPA's ability to police pollution discharged into certain wetlands. At its heart, the case pitted property rights of individuals against environmental concerns. The ruling outlined that "wetlands can only be regulated under the Clean Water Act if they have a…

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May 26, 2023
Read more about the article FREE NACo Webinars on Finance Compliance, Non-Tax Revenue, Child/Family Social Impacts and Strategic Planning
County Government and Structure / Finance and Procurement / Health and Human Services / NACo and Federal Issues
FREE NACo Webinars on Finance Compliance, Non-Tax Revenue, Child/Family Social Impacts and Strategic Planning

Every month the National Association of Counties (NACo) hosts webinars to provide county leaders and professionals with knowledge on best practices and hot topics in various areas. Join NACo for the following webinars in June: County Finance Transformation: Improve Efficiency, Productivity, and Compliance June 8th - 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm REGISTRATION Overview - County government organizations face significant challenges, including budget constraints, changing regulations, and increasing demand for transparency and accountability.  These challenges can…

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May 25, 2023
Read more about the article Baltimore Co is Working to Make Community College Free for Residents
County Budgets / County News / Education / Higher Education / NACo and Federal Issues
Baltimore Co is Working to Make Community College Free for Residents

Baltimore County is pursuing free community college education for its residents, in an effort to meet the changing workforce landscape It's no surprise that Maryland's community colleges rank second in the nation, mainly for their affordability and accessibility and growing role in preparing a qualified, diverse workforce. Now, Baltimore County is deepening its commitment to provide free community college and help fill labor and skills gaps in the County and State's economy -- a growing trend around Maryland. Baltimore County Executive…

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May 25, 2023
Read more about the article Maryland Counties Can Now Host an Economic Recovery Corps Fellow
Economic Development / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use
Maryland Counties Can Now Host an Economic Recovery Corps Fellow

Counties can now apply to host an Economic Recovery Corps Fellow to accelerate recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic The Economic Recovery Corps Program (ERC) is a multi-year, $30 million collaborative initiative designed to "accelerate recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic in distressed communities and regions throughout the U.S." by connecting organizations with the talent and capacity needed to "advance new ways of doing economic development that promote economic resilience and transformative change." The National Association of…

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May 24, 2023
Read more about the article NACo Announces AI Exploratory Committee
Information Technology / NACo and Federal Issues
NACo Announces AI Exploratory Committee

County leaders and partners to examine best practices and considerations for deploying AI. The National Association of Counties (NACo) is pleased to announce the formation of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Exploratory Committee, which will examine emerging policies, practices, and potential applications and consequences of AI. People worldwide recognize AI's potential in the economy and public sector. America’s counties need to be prepared to address this innovation with the realization that AI technology is here to…

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May 24, 2023
Read more about the article Baltimore Named “Workforce Hub” by New Federal Jobs Initiative
Coronavirus / County News / Economic Development / Employee Benefits and Relations / Labor / NACo and Federal Issues
Baltimore Named “Workforce Hub” by New Federal Jobs Initiative

Baltimore City, along with four other cities, was named a “Workforce Hub,” under a new federal initiative aimed at matching more Americans with “good jobs and careers.” Baltimore City has been deemed a "Workforce Hub" as part of a federal effort to ensure that all Americans can access the jobs created by the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America agenda, designed to jumpstart the economy as the country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Named alongside Baltimore as "Workforce Hubs"…

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May 22, 2023
Read more about the article Conduit Street Podcast — Debt Limit: Deal or No Deal?
County News / Feature / Finance and Procurement / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Conduit Street Podcast — Debt Limit: Deal or No Deal?

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson break down the latest on the high-stakes negotiations to avoid an unprecedented default on the nation's debt and explain why Maryland is especially vulnerable to federal budget cuts or austerity measures.

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May 19, 2023
Read more about the article Four Maryland Universities to Receive $2.5 M to Train, Hire Mental Health Support
County News / Education / Health and Human Services / Higher Education / NACo and Federal Issues
Four Maryland Universities to Receive $2.5 M to Train, Hire Mental Health Support

Four Maryland universities will receive more than $2.5 million in federal grants to train and hire new mental health service personnel to help address student mental health. Under the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the U.S. Department of Education will distribute nearly $100 million to 36 states to fund the training and hiring of mental health professionals across the country in order to address student mental health needs. Maryland will receive a little more than…

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May 18, 2023
Read more about the article Federal Debt Limit Dilemma: What’s At Stake for States and County Governments?
Feature / NACo and Federal Issues / Policy Deep Dive / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Federal Debt Limit Dilemma: What’s At Stake for States and County Governments?

This article is part of MACo's Policy Deep Dive series, where expert policy analysts explore and explain the top county policy issues of the day. A new article is added each week – read all of MACo's Policy Deep Dives. New analyses by the Congressional Budget Office and the US Department of the Treasury indicate the United States is rapidly approaching the date the government can no longer pay its bills, also known as the…

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May 17, 2023
Read more about the article Counties Partner with Retirees to Fill Vacancies, Relieve Tax Debt
Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / NACo and Federal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
Counties Partner with Retirees to Fill Vacancies, Relieve Tax Debt

Counties in Colorado and South Carolina are tackling two problems through one innovative approach: residential retirees fill local staff vacancies in exchange for property tax forgiveness. Public service around the country is at an all-time low. State, county, and municipal governments from Maryland to California are struggling to hire and retain eligible works for a vast range of government positions. The National Association of Counties (NACo) recently reported on one innovative approach to county hiring that might…

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May 16, 2023
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