Read more about the article State Infrastructure Averages “C”, in Line with National Trends
Environment / Transportation and Public Works / Winter Conference
State Infrastructure Averages “C”, in Line with National Trends

A recent report puts Maryland's infrastructure at a "C", consistent for the 5th year running and in line with national trends.  Maryland’s 2025 Infrastructure Report Card, developed by the Maryland Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers, retains an overall grade of “C,” signaling that core systems remain operational but require sustained and, in many cases, increased investment to meet current and future demands. Facilities and networks that intersect most directly with county responsibilities…

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November 3, 2025
Read more about the article Public Health Experts Warn That Federal Policies Could Widen Racial Health Disparities
Health and Human Services / Winter Conference
Public Health Experts Warn That Federal Policies Could Widen Racial Health Disparities

According to Stateline, the editorial arm of The Pew Charitable Trusts, public health agencies that work with the most vulnerable communities nationwide are sounding the alarm on service gaps and adverse outcomes in the wake of federal policy shifts.  A recent Stateline article highlighted concerns among public-health experts that racial health disparities in the United States may widen as the federal government has begun dismantling programs designed to address inequities. Many grants and offices aimed at…

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November 3, 2025
Read more about the article Problematic Policy: Passing the Buck on Wrongful Convictions
County Budgets / Courts / Winter Conference
Problematic Policy: Passing the Buck on Wrongful Convictions

Earlier this year the Maryland Board of Public Works approved the first wrongful conviction settlement payment that will fall under the new cost sharing structure between state and local governments. Wicomico was the first jurisdiction to be charged, resulting in an almost $300,000 cost for a jurisdiction considered resource scarce enough to merit disparity grant funding from the state. This is the result of provisions in the 2025 Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA) that…

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November 3, 2025
Read more about the article Rx for Retention: County Strategies for Prescription Drug Spending
Employee Benefits and Relations / Labor / Winter Conference
Rx for Retention: County Strategies for Prescription Drug Spending

As prescription drug costs continue to climb, counties face a difficult balancing act between protecting employee health and keeping budgets in check. Prescription drug spending has become one of the fastest-growing pressures on county health plans, directly affecting both workforce retention and fiscal stability. Counties serve as major employers and rely on competitive health benefits to attract and retain qualified workers, particularly in essential roles like public safety. Yet escalating drug prices and opaque pricing…

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November 3, 2025
Read more about the article Power in Partnership: How Collective Impact Transforms Communities From the Inside Out 
Winter Conference
Power in Partnership: How Collective Impact Transforms Communities From the Inside Out 

MACo’s 2025 Winter Conference Solutions Showcase features thought leaders and industry experts presenting resources and best practices to assist local governments. Check out this session hosted by Park Heights Renaissance!  About Park Heights Renaissance: The mission of Park Heights Renaissance (PHR) is to develop successful partnerships and resources that support the implementation of the Park Heights Master Plan using a holistic community development approach to enhance and maintain a thriving and sustainable community.  SOLUTIONS SHOWCASE…

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November 3, 2025
Read more about the article 6 Weeks, 6 Ways: Countdown to Winter #MACoCon
December 13 - 2025 General Assembly Forecast panel at the 2024 MACo Winter Conference
Winter Conference
6 Weeks, 6 Ways: Countdown to Winter #MACoCon

MACo’s Winter Conference is just 6 weeks away. Here are 6 easy ways to prepare for the big event! Join over 1,000 leaders in Maryland’s public and private sectors as they prepare for the 2026 Maryland General Assembly Session by discussing county government priorities and challenges at MACo’s Winter Conference, “Local Leadership, Lasting Impact: Shaping What’s Next,” December 10-12, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay in Cambridge, MD! A few things you can do…

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October 29, 2025
Read more about the article When Leave Gets Complicated: Staying Compliant in the Paid Leave Era 
Winter Conference
When Leave Gets Complicated: Staying Compliant in the Paid Leave Era 

MACo’s 2025 Winter Conference Solutions Showcase features thought leaders and industry experts presenting resources and best practices to assist local governments. Check out this session hosted by American Fidelity!  About American Fidelity: American Fidelity offers full term life insurance and supplemental benefits and assists Maryland public sector employers with managing the increasing costs, complexities, and time requirements related to employee benefit administration  SOLUTIONS SHOWCASE SESSION:  Title: When Leave Gets Complicated: Staying Compliant in the Paid…

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October 29, 2025
Read more about the article New Wrongful Conviction Settlement Process Continues to Unfold in Wicomico
County Budgets / Courts / Government Liability and Courts / Winter Conference
New Wrongful Conviction Settlement Process Continues to Unfold in Wicomico

Legislative changes during the FY26 budget deliberations shifted a portion of the cost burden for wrongful convictions on to counties. With the new law in affect, counties are now picking up the settlement costs for a process they have no control over.  A recent Maryland Matters article highlighted some of the next steps in a novel move by the State to shift some of the costs of wrongful conviction settlements onto county governments. As previously covered on Conduit Street this…

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October 28, 2025
Read more about the article Dept of Energy Attempts to Expand Federal Role in Energy Approvals
Energy / Winter Conference
Dept of Energy Attempts to Expand Federal Role in Energy Approvals

The US Department of Energy's proposal to have the FERC play a larger role in energy approvals may curtail state and local authority. The U.S. Department of Energy has proposed that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission take explicit jurisdiction over new large-load interconnections (those above 20 MW) that directly tie into the interstate transmission grid — a move meant to address the rising footprint of massive power users like AI data centres and large-scale manufacturing.…

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October 28, 2025
Read more about the article “Forever Chemicals” Leave a Lasting Mark at Bay Head Park
Health and Human Services / Parks and Recreation / Winter Conference
“Forever Chemicals” Leave a Lasting Mark at Bay Head Park

Once a Cold War missile site, Anne Arundel’s Bay Head Park still carries the lasting footprint of military-era “forever chemicals.” As reported in a recent Eye on Annapolis article, Bay Head Park in Anne Arundel County has a long and complex history, one that stretches from Cold War military operations to a modern-day environmental health challenge. Testing and research at the former Navy site introduced PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” into local soil and water, leaving…

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October 28, 2025
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