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…

Comments Off on Demographics, Environment, Technology All Pose Public Budgeting Challenges
April 26, 2024
Read more about the article More State Budget Follow-up and Reporting in Joint Chairmen’s Report
Health and Human Services / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
More State Budget Follow-up and Reporting in Joint Chairmen’s Report

Among the session-end documents each year is the Joint Chairmen's Report, a comprehensive catalog of the various reports, narrative and language added to the operating and capital budgets through legislative deliberations. This year's 555-page report is now available online. The Joint Chairmen's Report, or JCR around town, summarizes and explains the many reports and added measures that were part of the eventual legislative enactment of the operating budget and capital budget bills for the year…

Comments Off on More State Budget Follow-up and Reporting in Joint Chairmen’s Report
April 25, 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…

Comments Off on Transparency Dashboard Coming for State Board of Public Works
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…

Comments Off on Official Session Wrap-up “90 Day Report” Available from Legislative Services
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…

Comments Off on 2024 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups
April 12, 2024
Read more about the article 2024 End of Session Wrap-Up: State Operating Budget
General Assembly News / News You Can Use / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
2024 End of Session Wrap-Up: State Operating Budget

The segments below provide an overview of MACo's work on State budget policy in the 2024 General Assembly session.  County governments receive support through multiple state operating budget programs, and shifts in the State's budget can have widespread implications for counties. MACo seeks county budget security by maintaining current State funding levels, new funding programs, and enhancements in areas of growth and need. Maryland's 446th legislative session convened amidst a substantial concern over the State's…

Comments Off on 2024 End of Session Wrap-Up: State Operating Budget
April 9, 2024
Read more about the article Final Budget Plan Rejects Deep Funding Cuts for Local Roads and Bridges
Feature / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Transportation and Public Works
Final Budget Plan Rejects Deep Funding Cuts for Local Roads and Bridges

After sometimes tense negotiations, the Maryland House of Delegates and Maryland Senate fiscal leaders have announced a deal on the fiscal 2025 spending plan. While the full details of the budget compromise will become apparent in the days ahead (where a final vote in each chamber awaits), MACo successfully advocated for the General Assembly to reject deep funding cuts for local roads and bridges. "The Maryland House and Senate have agreed to a deal in…

Comments Off on Final Budget Plan Rejects Deep Funding Cuts for Local Roads and Bridges
April 4, 2024
Read more about the article Second Supplemental Budget Increases State Funding for Schools
County Budgets / County News / Education / Feature / Finance and Procurement / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Second Supplemental Budget Increases State Funding for Schools

Governor Moore submitted a second supplemental budget with over $23 million more in State aid for education. Updated data should trigger a re-do of each county's local funding obligations for FY 2025.  On March 26, Governor Wes Moore introduced Supplemental Budget No. 2, affecting the previously estimated funds available for State budget operations. Of consequence for county governments is more than $23 million in additional state funding for various aspects of public education, as detailed…

Comments Off on Second Supplemental Budget Increases State Funding for Schools
March 26, 2024
Older Posts