Pensions & Public Funds Archives

Explainer: Two Budget Cycles Shifted $165M in Pension Costs to Counties

Across two consecutive budget cycles, the State has added nearly $165 million in annual costs to county budgets through new pension obligations and the elimination of retirement grants. The total includes $137 million in new annual retirement costs shifted to counties and a $27.7 million loss in annual supplemental retirement grants. The State created those grants as part of the 2012 teacher pension cost shift. How the 2012 Pension Shift Worked Before 2012, the State funded employer…

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August 19, 2026

County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Pensions & Public Funds

Maryland Pension System Tops Target With 13.19% Return

Maryland’s pension system posted a 13.19% net investment return in fiscal 2026, well above its actuarial target and adding another year of positive long-term performance for the $82.1 billion fund. The Maryland State Retirement and Pension System announced the results this week. The 13.19% return for the fiscal year ending June 30 exceeded the System’s 6.80% actuarial target by 6.39 percentage points. The fund tracked its investment benchmark much more closely, outperforming it by 3…

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August 18, 2026

Read more about the article Park & Planning Retirement System Seeking Montgomery, Prince George’s Trustees

County project map, image courtesy of Prince George's County Planning

Parks and Recreation / Pensions & Public Funds / Planning and Zoning

Park & Planning Retirement System Seeking Montgomery, Prince George’s Trustees

The Retirement System serving Park and Planning officials in the two DC-adjacent counties has Trustee vacancies, and is seeking interested parties to apply to serve. The Board of Trustees for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) is seeking two trustees, one each from Montgomery County and Prince George’s County. Public Trustees serve a three-year term, from July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2029. The Board holds fiduciary oversight of the…

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April 28, 2026

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2026 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups

Catch up on all of the latest outcomes of the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session with wrap-ups on important county-related bills in each policy area. Maryland’s 448th legislative session unfolded under significant fiscal pressure. Lawmakers closed the fiscal 2027 gap, preserved reserves, and fully funded principal commitments, such as the Blueprint, but did not resolve the larger structural deficits projected for the years ahead. That budget pressure shaped debates across nearly every policy area, from…

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April 17, 2026

Bill Hearing / County Budgets / County News / Education / Employee Benefits and Relations / General Assembly News / Housing and Community Development / Pensions & Public Funds / Planning and Zoning / School Construction and Capital Budgets

Session Updates on Housing, Budget Pressure, and the Road to Crossover

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, we check in on the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session as lawmakers approach the critical crossover deadline. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in the know!

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March 6, 2026

County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Pensions & Public Funds

FY 2026 County Workforce Compensation and Benefit Trends

What does it really cost to employ a public sector workforce - and how do these costs change year to year? Behind every county budget are critical decisions about salaries, health benefits, and pensions that are essential for effective workforce and fiscal planning. Every year, Human Resources Officers across each jurisdiction provide valuable insights into the core components of public sector employment. The FY 2026 County Employee Salaries, Health Benefits, and Pensions Report offers a…

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January 28, 2026

Health and Human Services / News You Can Use / Pensions & Public Funds

Maryland Retirement System Appoints Edward Kamonjoh To Lead Governance Strategy

The Maryland State Retirement Agency has named Edward Kamonjoh as its new Senior Corporate Governance Manager, advancing the System’s focus on transparency, accountability, and long-term investment integrity across its $70 billion portfolio. In this role, Kamonjoh will lead proxy voting operations, integrate material ESG (environmental, social, and governance) considerations into investment analysis, and represent the System in corporate and regulatory engagement. His appointment underscores a growing emphasis on sound governance as public pension systems navigate…

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June 4, 2025

Business Affairs / 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 / Human Resources / Information Technology / Intergovernmental Relations / Labor / MACo Testimony / 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 / Transportation and Public Works

2025 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups

Catch up on all of the latest outcomes of the 2025 Maryland General Assembly session with wrap-ups on important county-related bills in each policy area. Maryland’s 447th legislative session was defined by one of the most challenging budget environments in over a decade — with a $3.3 billion shortfall driving proposals for aggressive cost shifts, spending cuts, and tax changes. Despite these unprecedented fiscal pressures, counties worked together through MACo to protect essential services, limit…

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April 11, 2025

Pensions & Public Funds

2025 End of Session Wrap-Up: Pensions and Public Funds

The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work on pensions and public funds policy in the 2025 General Assembly. Several of Maryland’s counties participate in the State’s pension system, and the other half support their employees through local pension systems. MACo’s pension advocacy includes defending local authority to define the elements of county-run pension systems and protecting the interests of county governments participating in the State’s pension system. Maryland’s 447th legislative session convened…

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April 9, 2025

Pensions & Public Funds

Pension Transfer Study To Invite Five Counties to the Table

Legislation passing through both chambers of the General Assembly will bring five county governments to the table with State pension leaders, to work through issues arising when employees transfer from one public pension system to another. The work group is to have recommendations in time for 2026 legislation. HB 584 and SB 457, cross-filed bills, are moving through the General Assembly and appear to be heading toward passage. The bills would require that: The State…

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March 18, 2025