2023 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups

Catch up on all of the latest outcomes of the 2023 Maryland General Assembly session with wrap-ups on important county-related bills in each policy area. In addition to the swearing-in of a new governor, comptroller, attorney general, and legislators alike, the 445th legislative session kicked off with more relaxed health and safety measures compared to the turbulence of the last few years. With the 2023 session in the books, it's time to take stock. As…

Comments Off on 2023 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups
2023 End of Session Wrap-Up: Pensions and Public Funds

The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo's work on f pensions and public funds policy in the 2023 General Assembly.  In addition to the swearing-in of a new governor, the 445th legislative session kicked off with more relaxed health and safety measures compared to the turbulence of the last few years. This enabled MACo's policy team to dynamically engage with private-sector stakeholders, legislators, and representatives across all levels of government. Under these more…

Comments Off on 2023 End of Session Wrap-Up: Pensions and Public Funds
Nov 15: Spending Affordability Committee Focuses on Education, State Vacancies

The Spending Affordability Committee of the General Assembly met on November 15 ahead of the 2023 legislative session. That meeting forecasted the state budget over the next several years with a focus on education funding and state staff vacancies. The Spending Affordability Committee met virtually on November 15 with the House Appropriations and Ways and Means Committees and the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee to discuss the state's fiscal health ahead of the 2023 legislative session. Of particular…

Comments Off on Nov 15: Spending Affordability Committee Focuses on Education, State Vacancies
State Closes with $2B Surplus, School Construction to Get Boost

Maryland again closed the Fiscal Year with a revenue surplus -- this time of $2 billion -- which will in-part boost State funding of school construction and capital projects. At the September 14 meeting of the Board of Public Works (BPW), Comptroller Peter Franchot announced that Maryland has closed its books on Fiscal Year 2022 with a revenue surplus of $2 billion in its General Fund, marking the second year in a row that the State’s…

Comments Off on State Closes with $2B Surplus, School Construction to Get Boost
At #MACoCon, Attendees Dive into Innovative Tourism as Drivers of Local Economy

At the 2022 MACo Summer Conference, attendees learned about the innovative and creative ways local governments are supporting local tourism as post-pandemic economic drivers. Like many other areas of county service, Maryland’s tourism industry has experienced unprecedented challenges over the past two years. Throughout the pandemic, counties developed new strategies to attract visitors or began promoting a new kind of tourism altogether. As a crucial service to their communities, tourism departments began focusing on innovative…

Comments Off on At #MACoCon, Attendees Dive into Innovative Tourism as Drivers of Local Economy
Sticker Shock! Adjusting for Inflation at #MACoCon

A panel of experts offered insights and best practices for navigating fiscal uncertainty. Inflation is exceptionally high, driving up costs for capital projects and routine service delivery. The tight labor market means county governments are increasing salaries, which puts upward pressure on pension costs. Supply chain issues driven by geopolitical unrest and the global pandemic threaten to delay priority projects. And the looming potential of a recession only adds fuel to the fire. At this…

Comments Off on Sticker Shock! Adjusting for Inflation at #MACoCon
Large Counties’ Next ARPA Reporting is July 31: Here’s the Bottom Line

Larger counties need to report to the federal government by July 31 on their latest efforts with funds made available through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) - NACo has assembled guidance for counties to stay in compliance. The following materials were assembled by the National Association of Counties (NACo), who have been tirelessly working to guide and assist counties with all facets of federal fund deployment. = = = = = Here is guidance…

Comments Off on Large Counties’ Next ARPA Reporting is July 31: Here’s the Bottom Line
Read more about the article AG Frosh: Sackler Family to Owe Maryland At Least $39.6 Million
Attorney General Brian E. Frosh
AG Frosh: Sackler Family to Owe Maryland At Least $39.6 Million

According to Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh, the Sackler family will pay Maryland at least $39.6 million as a part of a $6 billion multi-state settlement agreement for its role in the opioid epidemic. The Sackler family is most known for its ownership of Purdue Pharma, which manufactured the once-popular drug OxyContin. Contingent upon court approval, the newly announced settlement represents a substantial increase of between $1.175 to $1.675 billion from last August's initial agreement…

Comments Off on AG Frosh: Sackler Family to Owe Maryland At Least $39.6 Million
Baltimore County Approves Largest Retiree COLA in a Decade

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski today announced that the Employees’ Retirement Board voted to approve a three percent cost of living adjustment for eligible retirees, effective July 1, 2022. “Our retirees have dedicated their lives to serving the residents of Baltimore County, and they deserve to be recognized for their contributions to our communities,” Olszewski said. “This increase in compensation is well deserved and long overdue.” Baltimore County government retirees receive the cost of living…

Comments Off on Baltimore County Approves Largest Retiree COLA in a Decade
Comptroller Franchot Becomes Chair of State Pension Board of Trustees

Comptroller Peter Franchot recently assumed the chairmanship of the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System Board of Trustees, which establishes rules and regulations to administer several pension systems and manage pension funds for about 412,000 members. These include active and retired state employees, teachers, state police, judges, and other law enforcement personnel. The 15-member Board of Trustees also directs the management of a $70 billion investment portfolio and adopts the actuarial assumptions necessary to fund…

Comments Off on Comptroller Franchot Becomes Chair of State Pension Board of Trustees