Board of Public Works: Nov 29 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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Nov 8 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 November 8, 2023: Allegany County A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $13,500 from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure…

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Building Blocks: A Guide to Curious Legislative Language About Capital Projects

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. During the Maryland legislative session, the General Assembly considers dozens of bills about capital projects and how governments fund, procure, and implement projects to build, expand, or repair public facilities. Some bills specifically focus on…

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Interagency Commission on School Construction: Nov 9 Meeting Agenda

The Interagency Commission on School Construction(IAC) — a nine-member commission that serves as a resource for best practices and as a statewide expert in facilities operations and management that supports Local Education Agencies — reviews and supports the implementation of capital projects relating to the repair and building of school facilities. It typically convenes once a month via videoconference. The meeting is live-streamed for the public on the IAC’s YouTube channel. The Board’s next meeting…

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Board of Public Works: Nov 8 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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Citing a Lack of State Funding, Worcester Pauses Latest School Construction Project

Citing the lack of State funding for design plans, the Worcester County Commissioners voted to pause the new Buckingham Elementary School (BES) construction project. The State of Maryland provides a 50/50 match for school construction based on certain factors, including square footage, classroom sizes, number of students, site conditions, and overall square footage. Proposed plans for a new 102,968-gross-square-foot BES exceeded the State formula maximum of 65,218 square feet. "The commissioners were unaware, even as…

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Oct 25 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 October 25, 2023: Anne Arundel County A request from the Maryland Department of Health to approve a $149,250 grant to Key Point Health…

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Board of Public Works: Oct 25 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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Fitch Affirms Charles County’s AAA Rating Ahead of Bond Sale

Fitch Ratings affirms Charles County's AAA bond rating. Fitch Ratings has assigned a AAA rating to the following Charles County bonds: $55 million consolidated public improvement bonds of 2023 In addition, Fitch has affirmed the County's Issuer Default Rating and outstanding GO and public improvement bonds at AAA. The superior ratings keep borrowing costs low for capital projects and reflect the County's sound fiscal policies, prudent long-range planning, and economic stability. Proceeds of the improvement…

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Capital Debt Affordability Committee Recommends 45% Increase in Bond Authorization for FY 25

The State’s Capital Debt Affordability Committee (CDAC) approved a recommendation to set the State’s bond authorization $500 million above previous recommendations for fiscal year 2025, which would constitute a 45% increase in state borrowing. The Capital Debt Affordability Committee (CDAC) met three times in October to discuss the State’s fiscal health and consider the limit on new state capital debt for the next fiscal year. On October 16, the Committee adopted a set of borrowing…

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