Read more about the article Credit Warnings Continue as MD Capital Debt Committee Prepares Recommendation
Education / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Credit Warnings Continue as MD Capital Debt Committee Prepares Recommendation

Staff from the Maryland State Treasurer's Office shared credit rating agency concerns with the Maryland Capital Debt Affordability Committee ahead of vote on final debt recommendations this Friday. Warnings stem from weak economic growth, projected structural deficits, and low reserves relative to peer states.   During the second meeting of the Maryland Capital Debt Affordability Committee (CDAC) members were briefed on current general fund revenue estimates, the taxable property base, capital needs, the state credit ratings,…

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October 6, 2026
Read more about the article Revenue Task Force Weighs School Funding Gaps, New Local Options
NACo compared the mix of county-generated revenues in Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia using 2022 Census finance data.
County Budgets / County News / Education / Feature / General Assembly News / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
Revenue Task Force Weighs School Funding Gaps, New Local Options

Maryland’s Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Structures focused its October 2 meeting on rising school facility costs and several potential new revenue options for local governments. School construction and maintenance costs dominated the first part of the meeting. IAC outlined nearly $2 billion in annual unmet needs for school maintenance, operations, and capital renewal, along with a separate $1.3 billion gap in State school construction funding over the past two decades. The…

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October 5, 2026
Read more about the article MD Capital Debt Affordability Committee Recommendations Coming Soon
School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
MD Capital Debt Affordability Committee Recommendations Coming Soon

The Maryland Capital Debt Affordability Committee has begun their annual series of meetings to assess the condition of the state debt programs and make recommendations for FY28 standards.  The Maryland Capital Debt Affordability Committee (CDAC) held their first of three meetings last week to discuss the condition of state borrowing and debt in order to make recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly regarding the amount of new state debt that may be prudently authorized…

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October 1, 2026
Read more about the article Blueprint Check-In: The Educators’ View
County Budgets / Economic Development / Education / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Blueprint Check-In: The Educators’ View

Five years into implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, how is Maryland’s sweeping education reform plan affecting the people responsible for bringing it to life in classrooms and schools across the state? Sarah Sample continues her Conduit Street Podcast series examining the Blueprint from different perspectives across Maryland’s education community. 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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September 25, 2026
Read more about the article Blueprint Check-In: The Superintendents’ View
County News / Education / School Construction and Capital Budgets
Blueprint Check-In: The Superintendents’ View

Five years into implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, Maryland’s sweeping education reform plan is approaching a pivotal moment. On this episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Sarah Sample kicks off a new series examining how the Blueprint is playing out on the ground and what could come next as lawmakers prepare for the 2027 legislative session. Her first guest is Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director of the Public School Superintendents Association of Maryland…

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September 18, 2026
Read more about the article School Construction Agency Moves Forward With Final Round of Funding Allocations for FY27
School Construction and Capital Budgets
School Construction Agency Moves Forward With Final Round of Funding Allocations for FY27

During a recent board meeting of the Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC) the final round of project funding allocations was approved for the state share of local school construction and repair and maintenance, totaling $418M. The Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC) voted to approve the final round of annual project allocations for local school construction and maintenance projects that will receive State funding from the annual Capital Improvement Program for FY27. Of the…

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June 30, 2026
Read more about the article Understanding Maryland’s State Property Tax and Why It Matters to Counties
School Construction and Capital Budgets
Understanding Maryland’s State Property Tax and Why It Matters to 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. When Maryland property owners receive their annual tax bill, they pay more than just their local county or municipal property taxes. They also pay a statewide property tax, a feature that sets Maryland apart from many other states. While local governments rely on property taxes to fund essential services such…

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June 17, 2026
Read more about the article Kent County Commissioners Approve Letter of Intent for Construction of New Middle School
County Budgets / School Construction and Capital Budgets
Kent County Commissioners Approve Letter of Intent for Construction of New Middle School

On Tuesday, the Kent County Board of Commissioners approved a letter of intent for the construction of a new Kent County Middle School.  During a June 9, 2026 meeting of the Kent County Board of Commissioners, local leaders voted to provide a conditional letter of intent for the construction of a new Kent County Middle School. The letter does not obligate the county to fund the project but gets the discovery process underway at the…

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June 11, 2026
Read more about the article Worcester County Budget Maintains Tax Rates, Boosts School, and Public Safety Funding
County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Education / Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development / Public Safety and Corrections / School Construction and Capital Budgets / Taxes and Revenues
Worcester County Budget Maintains Tax Rates, Boosts School, and Public Safety Funding

Worcester County has approved its Fiscal Year 2027 operating budget, maintaining both its property tax and local income tax rates while increasing investments in education, public safety, employee compensation, and county reserves. The approved $300.2 million spending plan keeps the County's property tax rate at 81.5 cents per $100 of assessed value and maintains its local income tax rate at 2.25%, which County officials note remains among the lowest in Maryland. County leaders described the…

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June 4, 2026
Read more about the article State Sells $800M in Bonds for Schools and Infrastructure
Finance and Procurement / School Construction and Capital Budgets
State Sells $800M in Bonds for Schools and Infrastructure

Just days after receiving AAA ratings from Fitch, S&P, and KBRA, Maryland completed an $800 million general obligation bond sale, securing favorable borrowing rates for future capital projects. The Board of Public Works approved the sale on Wednesday as part of the State and Local Facilities Loan of 2026. The bonds will help finance school construction, higher ed facilities, environmental projects, public safety improvements, and other infrastructure investments across Maryland. The sale attracted seven bids…

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June 4, 2026
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