News You Can Use Archives

Charles County Marks Water Quality Milestone in Lower Patuxent

Charles County has earned a notable water quality milestone after the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) approved the removal of the county’s portion of the non-tidal Lower Patuxent River Watershed from Maryland's sediment impairment list. The decision took four years of environmental monitoring and means that this portion of the watershed will now be recognized as meeting Maryland’s water quality standards for sediment-related biological health. For the county, this milestone helps clarify where future restoration…

Comments Off

April 9, 2026

County News / Economic Development / Housing and Community Development / News You Can Use / Parks and Recreation

Baltimore County Expands Senior Services in Jacksonville

Baltimore County is making a significant investment in services for older adults, breaking ground on a new Jacksonville Senior Center designed to better meet the needs of its growing and active senior population. The new facility will replace the current center with a space that is three times larger, giving the county more room to expand programming, improve accessibility, and support a wider range of activities and services. County officials say the project was shaped…

Comments Off

April 2, 2026

County News / Economic Development / Environment / News You Can Use

Prince George’s Uses Trees as Climate Infrastructure

Prince George's County is taking tree planting to a whole other level. More than just beautification, their new program focuses on local infrastructure development. Through its Urban Tree Planting Program, the county is planting 2,147 additional native trees and more than 3,000 native perennials, shrubs, and smaller trees in communities identified as having some of the greatest environmental need. The effort reflects a growing reality for counties: tree canopy is increasingly being viewed not just…

Comments Off

March 26, 2026

Agriculture / County News / Economic Development / News You Can Use

Harford Tackles What’s Next for County Agriculture

Agriculture is constantly changing and Harford County’s upcoming Agriculture Symposium promises a snapshot of the issues shaping county agriculture right now. Set for May 9, the county’s 2026 symposium titled “Rooted in Change,” will bring together farmers, agricultural professionals, and community members for a day of discussion around some of the biggest issues facing local agriculture today. And while the event is local, the themes are anything but. From emerging farm technology to business diversification…

Comments Off

March 25, 2026

County News / Education / Emergency Management / News You Can Use

Training Tomorrow’s First Responders Today

Counties across the country are struggling to recruit the next generation of firefighters, dispatchers, and law enforcement officers. One Florida county is taking a different approach, building that pipeline before students even graduate high school. In Okeechobee County, public safety career programs are giving students hands-on training and early exposure to careers in fire rescue, 911 dispatch, and law enforcement. The programs are embedded directly into the school day through career and technical education (CTE)…

Comments Off

March 24, 2026

County News / Emergency Management / General Assembly News / MACo Testimony / News You Can Use

General Assembly Advances County Emergency Management Priorities

Two priority bills for county emergency managers are advancing in the General Assembly, both focused on stabilizing funding and bolstering long-term preparedness amid federal uncertainty. HB 953 has passed the House and now moves to the Senate. This bill authorizes transfers from the Revenue Stabilization Account to the State Disaster Recovery Fund, providing flexibility when disasters create immediate costs that counties must cover before federal aid arrives. The fund helps bridge that gap when costs…

Comments Off

March 23, 2026

General Assembly News / News You Can Use

“Crossover” Day is March 23…Wait, Why Do We Care About That?

March 23 marks the General Assembly’s “crossover” date. This means bills that are not passed out of one chamber by the end of the day face higher hurdles for passage. Members of the Maryland General Assembly are rushing to meet a legislative deadline on March 23, which is known as Crossover Day in Annapolis. In short — the crossover deadline is the General Assembly’s way of moving things along toward passage. Bills need to pass…

Comments Off

March 13, 2026

County Budgets / County News / Finance and Procurement / News You Can Use

Baltimore County Maintains Triple-A Bond Rating for 31st Consecutive Year

Baltimore County has announced that it has maintained triple-A bond ratings from all three major credit rating agencies for the 31st consecutive year, allowing the county to continue issuing bonds at the lowest possible interest rates and saving millions of dollars for taxpayers. From the county release: “Baltimore County is proud to maintain a strong financial foundation that supports our top bond ratings and allows us to invest in our residents, communities, and future,” said Baltimore…

Comments Off

March 12, 2026

County Government and Structure / County News / Information Technology / News You Can Use / Risk Management

Baltimore City Appoints New Chief Information Officer

Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced a new appointment to city leadership. Beginning March 16, 2026, T.J. Mayotte will assume the position of Chief Information Officer. From the press release: "I’m excited to have T.J. join my administration at such an important time for our city, as we continue to invest in digital equity and explore cutting-edge technology solutions to improve service delivery for our residents,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “T.J. is an innovator and a cybersecurity…

Comments Off

March 12, 2026

News You Can Use / State Budget and Fiscal Issues

Comptroller Lierman Names Erica Roach as Chief Deputy

Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman has appointed Erica Roach as Chief Deputy Comptroller. Roach will assume the role following the departure of current Chief Deputy Comptroller Andrew Schaufele. Roach currently serves as Assistant Deputy Comptroller for Revenue Operations at the Comptroller’s Office, where she oversees executive functions tied to statewide revenue collection, taxpayer assistance, and operational performance supporting more than $27 billion in annual state revenue. As Chief Deputy Comptroller, Roach will work closely with the…

Comments Off

March 11, 2026