Taxes and Revenues / Uncategorized
Communication Tax Reform Commission in Home Stretch – Looking More Closely at State Revenues

The Maryland Communications Tax Reform Commission, which began meeting last fall, held its first meeting of the interim to discuss revenue data collected from the industry and local governments, and provide an analysis of the two proposals offered by the wireless community during its December 2012 meeting. Although the Commission has been charged with assessing the “feasibility and fiscal implications for the State and local governments of a modernized, competitively neutral communications tax and fee…

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May 22, 2013
Health and Human Services / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Uncategorized
Health Officers Discuss Local Health Funding and Health Care Reform

MACo's Legislative Director, Andrea Mansfield, recently met with the Maryland Association of County Health Officers, an affiliate organization of MACo, to discuss local health funding and the health department's role in health care reform.  These discussions are intended to frame discussions that will take place during the interim. The Department of Legislative Services(DLS) released a report at the end of the 2012 interim titled “Survey of Local Health Departments in Maryland” which examined the funding of local health departments…

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May 10, 2013
Uncategorized
Comptroller Accepting Nominations for the William Donald Schaefer Helping People Award

On April 11, Comptroller Peter Franchot announced that his office is accepting nominations for the William Donald Schaefer Helping People Award. As announced in the press release: The Comptroller created the award, to recognize individuals and organizations in each county and Baltimore City best exemplifying Schaefer’s lifelong commitment to helping people. Winners will be selected based on their demonstration of improving the community, swiftly solving a citizen problem through effective government intervention, directly aiding the most vulnerable in…

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April 26, 2013
Uncategorized
Comptroller Accepting Nominations for the William Donald Schaefer Helping People Award

On April 11, Comptroller Peter Franchot announced that his office is accepting nominations for the William Donald Schaefer Helping People Award. As announced in the press release: The Comptroller created the award, to recognize individuals and organizations in each county and Baltimore City best exemplifying Schaefer’s lifelong commitment to helping people. Winners will be selected based on their demonstration of improving the community, swiftly solving a citizen problem through effective government intervention, directly aiding the most…

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April 12, 2013
Uncategorized
Invitation to Attend the Maryland Watermen’s Symposium

Comptroller Peter Franchot and the Chesapeake Bay Commercial Fisherman's Association have issued an open invitaiton for all interested parties to attend the Maryland Watermen's Symposium on April 18, 2013 at 1:00 pm at the Rufus M. and Loraine Hall Todd Performing Arts Center at the Wye Mills Campus of Chesapeake College. The Comptroller, commercial fishing industry representatives, and stakeholders will discuss the importance of the industry to Maryland's economy and way of life. Please view the invitation…

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April 12, 2013
General Assembly News / Taxes and Revenues / Uncategorized
2013 End of Session Wrap Up: Tax and Revenue – Personal Property Tax Legislation

This post summarizes the status of tax and revenue bills related to personal property taxes that MACo either considered or took a position on. Personal Property Tax Liens: As introduced,  HB 419 would require a county to record a lien on personal property for unpaid taxes with the clerk of the court and make a personal property lien secondary to other non-tax liens.  MACo opposed the bill stating that it would significantly undermine a county’s ability…

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April 9, 2013
Finance and Procurement / General Assembly News / Uncategorized
2013 End of Session Wrap Up: Finance and Procurement Legislation

This post summarizes the status of finance and procurement bills that MACo either considered or took a position on. Sustainable Communities: HB 613 would expand the financing options available to local governments with designated sustainable communities to include those employed in Transit Orientated Developments and the use of tax increment financing (TIF). MACo supported this bill as it provided one more tool in the tool box for local governments to carry out important projects in these…

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April 9, 2013
County Budgets / General Assembly News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Uncategorized
General Assembly Approves Fiscal Year 2014 Budget, Including Disparity Grant Enhancement

After several years of budgets with spending reductions and tax increases, the House and Senate approved a $36.9 billion Fiscal Year 2014 budget which contained neither.  As reported by MarylandReporter.com: The budget, HB 100,  raises overall spending 3% and is $500 million less than Gov. Martin O’Malley originally proposed, largely by setting aside funds in case federal budget cuts impact state revenues. There was none of the contention that led to an impasse last year…

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April 9, 2013
Uncategorized
Neuman Evaluates Her First Month as Anne Arundel County Executive

Anne Arundel County Executive Laura Neuman discusses the progress and changes that have been made since she took office one month ago.  To see Eye on Annapolis' full story on County Executive Neuman, click here.

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April 4, 2013
General Assembly News / Taxes and Revenues / Transportation and Public Works / Uncategorized
2013 Session Update: Tax and Revenue – Transportation Related Legislation

The General Assembly is now in its final week of the Legislative Session and bills have started moving to their ultimate end.  While it is still possible for a bill still sitting in its committee of origin to pass, it is more likely that bills still in this status are not going to move and those that have moved to the opposite chamber will continue to be worked towards final passage. This post summarizes the…

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April 4, 2013
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