A Look at the Blueprint by the Numbers

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. Maryland is well into the decade-long implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. Widely cited as the most ambitious government-led initiative to be undertaken in Maryland, the plan and implementation are top of mind for county governments…

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Deep Dive: The State of Maryland’s Unemployment Insurance System

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. What Is Unemployment Insurance? The federal-state unemployment insurance (UI) system offers temporary financial support to individuals who have lost their jobs, helping to replace a portion of their income while they search for new employment. Established in…

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Overview of EPA’s 2 Year Eval. of Chesapeake Bay Cleanup

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. In 2014, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia signed the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement of 2014, establishing 10 goals and 31 outcomes to restore the Bay, its tributaries, and the…

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Police Accountability: Updates and Outlook on Civilian Oversight

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.  Police reform has been underway in Maryland for three years now since the passage of the Police Accountability Act of 2021. One of the major tenets of that legislation was the establishment of a civilian oversight…

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Deep Dive: Taxing and Regulating Home Amenity Rentals

This article is part of MACo’s Policy Deep Dive series, in which expert policy analysts explore and explain the top county policy issues of the day. A new article is published each week — read all of MACo’s Policy Deep Dives. From pools and sports courts to large backyards, home gyms, pickleball courts, rooftop decks, and music studios, home amenity rentals represent a growing industry closely resembling traditional hospitality industry transactions – much more so than…

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3 Weird Ways Climate Change is Impacting Counties

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.  Climate change has emerged as one of the foremost challenges for policymakers. While Washington and Annapolis may set the agenda, implementation is often left to the counties. Consequently, counties possess a unique vantage point on…

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US Supreme Court: Multiple Cases with Potential Local Effects

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.  The 2023-2024 U.S. Supreme Court term covered a wide array of cases, and a particularly significant amount affected local governments either directly or peripherally. The more specific impact came from cases involving unhoused individuals sleeping in…

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MACo’s Policy Deep Dive: A Guide to Top County Issues

What is the MACo Policy Deep Dive? Readers of the Conduit Street blog will know that MACo's expert policy analysts delve into the latest county policy issues each week. This ongoing series, dubbed the MACo Policy Deep Dive, offers comprehensive insights, providing in-depth analyses and practical guidance for local governments navigating complex challenges. Here Are Some Recent Deep Dives: Emerging Election Trends  A breakdown of two emerging methods gaining attention: Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) and online…

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Deep Dive: Emerging Election Trends

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.  Elections are a core function of county government — but times are changing. Modern trends in voter preference, new technology, difficulties recruiting and retaining election judges, new and evolving cyber threats, and defending against disinformation are…

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Deep Dive: The Latest on the Francis Scott Key Bridge Response & Recovery Effort

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.  At 1:28 am on March 26th, 2024, the container ship the Dali lost power and veered into one of the supports of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Upon impact, the bridge collapsed into the Patapsco…

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