Washington County Wins $2.8M for Transit Facility Design

Washington County Transit has secured $2.8 million in federal funding to cover the full cost of designing and permitting a new administration and maintenance facility — a significant step forward in bolstering transit operations and long-term planning in Western Maryland. The funding comes through the federal BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development) program and was awarded as part of a national infrastructure investment package announced earlier this week. Washington County’s application received support from…

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Rising Drone Use and Skepticism Bring Potential Implications for Local Governments

While drones become more common in public service delivery, two federal executive orders could effect costs and sourcing options for programs currently underway.  Drone use by state and local governments has surged in recent years, with agencies deploying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for public safety, environment monitoring, infrastructure assessments, medical responses and more. Maryland is no exception, with state and local governments using these devices to enhance service delivery for residents. Most applications started in…

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Submit Questions for the “Navigating Federal Shifts” Panel at #MACoCon

Federal policy changes are creating new challenges and uncertainties for both the private and public sector across legal, economic, and operational fronts. A panel at MACo’s Summer Conference will explore how Maryland can adapt amid shifting national priorities. As the federal government continues to shift its priorities through sweeping legislation, executive action, and agency rulemaking, state and local governments are navigating a dynamic and often unpredictable policy environment. To help guide the conversation, we invite attendees…

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Caring for Kids: Challenges with Juvenile Detention in Adult Facilities at #MACoCon

Young Maryland residents who find themselves involved with the justice system have the potential to face a number of different outcomes depending on the violation. Community service, community placements with programming, electronic monitoring, and detention with programming are the primary next steps for a youth who has committed an infraction and may also be awaiting adjudication. While some offenses could see them going home the same day of being apprehended by law enforcement, others could…

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Zero-Day SharePoint Hack Targets Governments, Businesses — Here’s What Counties Need to Know

A newly discovered security flaw in Microsoft SharePoint has triggered a wave of cyberattacks targeting governments, universities, and private organizations, including multiple US federal and state agencies. The exploit, now designated CVE-2025-53770, allows attackers to gain complete, unauthenticated access to on-premise SharePoint servers, with the ability to read, delete, or manipulate internal content and configurations. Microsoft SharePoint remains widely deployed by counties and other state and local governments to manage documents, internal workflows, and public-facing…

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Leave it to American Fidelity

MACo’s 2025 Summer 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 holds a strong reputation nationally as they currently assist over 6,000 counties, municipalities, and school districts. This expertise makes them well-suited to help each of our members better manage the key benefit challenges we all share. American Fidelity is known for its…

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4 “Rs” to Get Revved Up for Summer #MACoCon

MACo’s Summer Conference, “Funding the Future - The Evolving Role of Local Government,” is coming up August 13-16, 2025 at the Convention Center in Ocean City, MD. Here are 4 “Rs” to help you get ready… A big “thank you” to the IBEW Local 24 for their sponsorship of MACo’s exhibit hall! 1. Renew your view of Maryland – Plan to Visit the County Exhibits in Hall ABC Be sure to visit our county exhibitors in Hall…

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#MACoCon Solutions Showcase Features Leaders in Cyber Security, Surplus Auctions, and Benefits Management

MACo’s Summer Conference Solutions Showcase will feature innovative and effective ways to address county governance challenges. Join us to hear from industry experts and thought leaders on topics like AI in cloud computing, digital connectivity, benefits management, and more! The Solutions Showcase schedule is listed below… Wednesday, August 13, 2025 AI in the Building Department: Hype, Help, and How To Trust It Hosted by Ichi AI is entering building departments—not to replace professionals, but to…

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Check Out These Taste of MD Reception Samples at Summer #MACoCon

Attend the Taste of Maryland Reception on Thursday of MACo's Summer Conference to sample everything Maryland has to offer! MACo’s Taste of Maryland Reception will be held on Thursday, August 14, from 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm in Exhibit Hall C (ticket required). Join us to experience tasting samples from unique and exciting venues across Maryland. Learn more about tourism destinations and agritourism ventures. Sample items like eastern shore oysters, western Maryland cheese, central Maryland…

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Find Out What Fed Medicaid Changes Mean for MD at #MACoCon

Federal changes to Medicaid are expected to bring significant coverage losses and added strain to state and local health systems. Nearly 12 million people nationwide could lose coverage over the next decade, including thousands in Maryland. The recently signed federal budget reconciliation bill, formally known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” makes sweeping changes to Medicaid that could have serious implications for Maryland. The new law aims to reduce $1 trillion in federal Medicaid…

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