Read more about the article The Cost of Classrooms: Maryland’s School Construction Funding Gap
County Budgets / News You Can Use / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Winter Conference
The Cost of Classrooms: Maryland’s School Construction Funding Gap

School construction costs are climbing faster than funding can keep pace — leaving counties to bridge the gap while ensuring every student learns in a safe, modern classroom. Maryland’s long-term framework for funding school construction faces new challenges as temporary funding streams, such as Built to Learn, phase out. At the same time, inflation, material shortages, and changing enrollment patterns have driven costs higher, forcing counties to stretch local dollars further than ever before. At…

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October 28, 2025
Read more about the article State Continues Debt Commitment for Schools, Housing, and More
School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
State Continues Debt Commitment for Schools, Housing, and More

Last Thursday the Capital Debt Affordability Committee (CDAC) convened to finalize recommendations for the state’s fiscal year 2027 capital budget. Members voted to maintain the borrowing of $1.75B but align the issuance closer with actual spending that has slowed in recent years. Chaired by the State Treasurer, the committee’s primary task during the meeting last week was to vote on the maximum level of new general obligation (GO) debt the state may prudently authorize, as…

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October 22, 2025
Read more about the article Federal Court Issues Final Ruling Blocking “Pass-Through” Ban in Maryland’s Digital Ad Tax
County News / Government Liability and Courts / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
Federal Court Issues Final Ruling Blocking “Pass-Through” Ban in Maryland’s Digital Ad Tax

A federal court has permanently blocked Maryland’s “pass-through” ban, closing the latest chapter in the legal fight over the first-in-the-nation digital advertising tax. A federal district court has permanently blocked Maryland from enforcing its “pass-through” ban — a central provision of the State’s digital advertising tax — finalizing months of litigation and affirming an earlier appellate decision that found the restriction unconstitutional. On October 15, the US District Court for the District of Maryland entered…

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October 21, 2025
Read more about the article Governor Moore Names Jake Weissmann Acting Budget Secretary
News You Can Use / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Governor Moore Names Jake Weissmann Acting Budget Secretary

Governor Wes Moore announced the appointment of Yaakov “Jake” Weissmann as Acting Secretary of the Maryland Department of Budget and Management (DBM), effective Tuesday, October 22. Weissmann succeeds outgoing Secretary Helene Grady and will lead the agency responsible for developing and managing the State’s operating and capital budgets, overseeing personnel and procurement policies, and ensuring long-term fiscal balance. "Jake Weissmann is an experienced public servant and one of the most effective policy minds in our…

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October 13, 2025
Read more about the article Fitch: Prolonged Federal Shutdown Could Pressure Public Finance Credits
Source: Maryland Department of Labor
County Budgets / County News / Finance and Procurement / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Fitch: Prolonged Federal Shutdown Could Pressure Public Finance Credits

Fitch Ratings cautions that while governments can manage a short shutdown, a lengthier disruption could ripple through housing, healthcare, higher education, transportation, local revenues, and economic growth — with potential negative credit consequences. Fitch Ratings released a new analysis this week, warning that a prolonged shutdown could erode public finance credit strength, straining budgets and weakening the long-term fiscal outlook for governments and nonprofits most reliant on federal support. A protracted shutdown could even trigger…

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October 2, 2025
Read more about the article Conduit Street Podcast: Revenues, Roads, and Rising Risks
County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Emergency Management / Finance and Procurement / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Transportation and Public Works
Conduit Street Podcast: Revenues, Roads, and Rising Risks

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson unpack Maryland’s fiscal outlook.   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 26, 2025
Read more about the article State Revenue Update: Tepid Growth, Outlook Weakens
Source: Board of Revenue Estimates
County Budgets / County News / Feature / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
State Revenue Update: Tepid Growth, Outlook Weakens

Maryland ended fiscal 2025 with a $521 million surplus, but that good news didn’t carry over. The Board of Revenue Estimates (BRE) reduced projections for the years ahead, citing weaker income and sales tax collections, sliding corporate revenues, and the drag of federal job losses. Revenue Projections: From Strong Finish to Slower Growth The Board, which includes Comptroller Brooke Lierman, Treasurer Dereck Davis, and Department of Budget and Management Secretary Helene Grady, approved general fund…

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September 25, 2025
Read more about the article Maryland’s FY25 Surplus Sets Stage for Deficit Years Ahead
Source: Department of Legislative Services
County Budgets / Feature / General Assembly News / News You Can Use / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
Maryland’s FY25 Surplus Sets Stage for Deficit Years Ahead

Maryland closed fiscal 2025 with a $521 million surplus — a short-term win that masks deep volatility and looming deficits with significant consequences for both State and county budgets. Maryland closed fiscal 2025 with general fund revenues $521 million above estimates, according to the Department of Legislative Services (DLS) presentation this week to the House Appropriations Committee. However, the details reveal both the volatility of Maryland's revenue base and the risks that lie ahead for State and…

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September 24, 2025
Read more about the article Deep Dive: Is MD Keeping Up With School Construction?
Policy Deep Dive / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Deep Dive: Is MD Keeping Up With School Construction?

A recent report on Maryland's public school construction efforts lays out the deepest evaluation of this priority effort in decades. The bottom line seems clear: Maryland's structure to support new and renovated school buildings is effective overall, but the total commitment has been dwarfed by cost increases, and we have fallen behind on this essential commitment to education. The report from Comptroller Brooke Lierman's office, "State Spending Series: School Construction," offers a timely look at…

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September 24, 2025
Read more about the article MDGFOA Fall Conference to Spotlight Revenue, Ethics, and Resilience
Finance and Procurement / News You Can Use / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
MDGFOA Fall Conference to Spotlight Revenue, Ethics, and Resilience

The Maryland Government Finance Officers Association (MDGFOA) will host its 2025 Fall Conference on Friday, October 24, at the Hilton Baltimore BWI Airport in Anne Arundel County. The conference theme, Innovating Government Finance: Ethics, Efficiency, and Economic Resilience, brings together state and local finance professionals for a full day of timely sessions, practical strategies, and networking opportunities. Attendees will hear from leading voices, including economist Anirban Basu of Sage Policy Group, who will deliver the…

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September 24, 2025
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