Read more about the article Demographics, Environment, Technology All Pose Public Budgeting Challenges
Human Resources / Information Technology / Intergovernmental Relations / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
Demographics, Environment, Technology All Pose Public Budgeting Challenges

Public budgeting - broadly speaking, providing services based on revenues attached to economic activity - is likely to face challenges from several emerging trends. An analysis looking at "state budgets" likely had comparable considerations for county fiscal leaders, too. The Pew Trusts, through its project on "Managing Fiscal Risks" lays out a series of ways that state budgets, and likely all public spending plans, will face new challenges in the years ahead. From an article…

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April 26, 2024
Read more about the article Transparency Dashboard Coming for State Board of Public Works
Finance and Procurement / Intergovernmental Relations / Parks and Recreation / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Transparency Dashboard Coming for State Board of Public Works

Legislation passed this session to create a "transparency dashboard" to open easier access to Maryland Board of Public Works meetings, where state-level contracts and procurements receive final administrative approval from that three-member public body. This implements a recommendation of the Comptroller's transition team, where local governments and other stakeholders offered guidance on best practices for that role and the Board on which the Comptroller serves. HB 877, passed by the General Assembly and awaiting the…

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April 16, 2024
Read more about the article Official Session Wrap-up “90 Day Report” Available from Legislative Services
Education / Environment / General Assembly News / Health and Human Services / Intergovernmental Relations / Planning and Zoning / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues / Transportation and Public Works
Official Session Wrap-up “90 Day Report” Available from Legislative Services

The annual 90 Day Report, a summary and review of actions taken through the 2024 regular session of the General Assembly. As always, the report provides a thorough review of major policy and fiscal issues considered or enacted through the session. An entire section is arranged county-by-county to show effects of multiple programs and initiatives on each county's fiscal situation. The nonpartisan staff agency to the General Assembly, the department of Legislative Services, has released…

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April 15, 2024
Read more about the article 2024 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups
Cannabis / 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 / Information Technology / Intergovernmental Relations / News You Can Use / 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 / Taxes and Revenues / Transportation and Public Works
2024 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups

Catch up on all of the latest outcomes of the 2024 Maryland General Assembly session with wrap-ups on important county-related bills in each policy area. Maryland’s 446th legislative session convened amidst a substantial concern over the State’s fiscal situation, with weakened revenues and cost increases for many services at every level of government. Despite the budgetary limitations, many policy issues received a full debate, with many resolutions arising from the 90-day annual process. MACo’s legislative…

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April 12, 2024
Read more about the article 2024 End of Session Wrap-Up: School Construction and Capital Budget
County News / MACo Testimony / School Construction and Capital Budgets
2024 End of Session Wrap-Up: School Construction and Capital Budget

The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work on school construction policy in the 2024 General Assembly session.  County Governments partner with the State of Maryland to fund school construction projects throughout Maryland. K-12 school renovation and construction projects make up a substantial portion of any county’s capital budget, and the needs of Maryland students are consistently a high priority. Maryland's 446th legislative session convened amidst a substantial concern over the State's fiscal…

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April 11, 2024
Read more about the article Counties Support Authorizing Construction Contingency Fund to Cover Construction Materials
MACo Testimony / School Construction and Capital Budgets
Counties Support Authorizing Construction Contingency Fund to Cover Construction Materials

On March 27, 2024, Associate Policy Director Brianna January submitted written testimony to the House Appropriations Committee in support of SB 556- Procurement – Construction Contingency Fund. As amended, this bill authorizes expenditure from the Construction Contingency Fund (CCF) to consider price adjustments for material price fluctuations of identified eligible project-specific materials. While local government projects are not eligible for the CCF, school construction projects are, which counties help fund. From MACo Testimony: SB 556,…

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March 28, 2024
Read more about the article MACo Seeks Local Representation in Workgroup on School Facilities
County News / MACo Testimony / School Construction and Capital Budgets
MACo Seeks Local Representation in Workgroup on School Facilities

On March 26, 2024, Associate Policy Director Brianna January submitted written testimony to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee in support of HB 1390- Public Schools- Public Schools Construction- Funding and Administration with amendments. As amended, this bill alters the purpose of the Nancy K. Kopp Public School Facilities Priority Fun and establishes the Workgroup on the Assessment and Funding of School Facilities, among other operational changes related to school construction. MACo seeks an amendment…

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March 27, 2024
Read more about the article Counties Face April Reporting for Federal ARPA/SLFRF Funds – FAQs Available from NACo
Coronavirus / Economic Development / Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development / NACo and Federal Issues / Public Safety and Corrections / School Construction and Capital Budgets
Counties Face April Reporting for Federal ARPA/SLFRF Funds – FAQs Available from NACo

NACo has developed resources with the US Department of the Treasury, to help guide counties in their upcoming April 30 reporting due on federal funds provided through congressional enactments during the coronavirus emergency. On April 30, 2024, annual Project and Expenditure (P&E) Reports are due to the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) for all counties, parishes and boroughs that received American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF). These required, periodic…

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March 27, 2024
Read more about the article Board of Public Works: April 3 Meeting Agenda
Board of Public Works / Economic Development / Parks and Recreation / School Construction and Capital Budgets
Board of Public Works: April 3 Meeting Agenda

The Board of Public Works — a three-member panel including Governor Wes Moore, Comptroller Brooke Lierman, and State Treasurer Dereck Davis — reviews projects, contracts, and expenditure plans for state agencies, many of which affect county governments. The State Board of Public Works (BPW) typically convenes on alternating Wednesdays in the Governor’s Reception Room on the 2nd floor of the State House in Annapolis, and meetings are open to the public. They are also live-streamed on…

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March 25, 2024
Read more about the article March 13 Board of Public Works Meeting: Here’s What Counties Need to Know
Board of Public Works / Economic Development / Parks and Recreation / School Construction and Capital Budgets
March 13 Board of Public Works Meeting: Here’s What Counties Need to Know

The Board of Public Works (BPW) — a three-member panel including Governor Wes Moore, Comptroller Brooke Lierman, and State Treasurer Dereck Davis — reviews projects, contracts, and expenditure plans for state agencies, many of which affect county governments. The BPW considered and approved the following requests and recommendations at its meeting on March 13, 2024: Allegany County A request from the Secretary of Natural Resources to approve naming the Perimeter Trail at Dan’s Mountain State…

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March 13, 2024
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