Winter Conference Archives

Good Government Book Club to Explore “Why Nothing Works”

MACo’s “good government” Book Club will renew in December – with a trending topic: Why Nothing Works. Join us for the conference and this discussion, with a free advance copy of the book. At the MACo Winter Conference, county officials and other guests can join a discussion on a book affecting public service and best practices as officials, employees, and colleagues. The selection for December 2025 is Why Nothing Works, by Marc J. Dunkelman. From…

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November 4, 2025

Winter Conference

Social Security: Choice of a Lifetime

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 Nationwide Retirement Solutions! About Nationwide Retirement Solutions: On Your Side. Nationwide is a market leader in providing supplemental retirement savings programs for public employees. Nationwide has been serving public sector employees and their families for over 40 years. Nationwide’s programs include 457(b), 401(a), and Post-Employment Health Plans, and…

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November 4, 2025

Powering the Future: What Battery Storage Means for Maryland Counties

Policy debates have focused on energy development, with storage receiving less attention. Looking ahead, storage will play a larger role both on the grid and in future debates. Battery storage is becoming an essential component of a modern, reliable, and resilient energy system, and county governments sit at a critical point where policy, infrastructure, and community needs intersect. Properly deployed, storage can help counties reduce peak energy costs, support backup power for emergency operations centers,…

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November 4, 2025

Energy / Intergovernmental Relations / News You Can Use / Winter Conference

Farm Bureau Pushes to Scrap Controversial Transmission Line After Developer Says It Can’t Meet Deadline

The Maryland Farm Bureau moved to shut down the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project after the developer acknowledged it cannot meet the June 2027 deadline, arguing that there is no reason to spend more time and money on a project that has already failed its own timeline. The Maryland Farm Bureau, joined by local county Farm Bureaus, filed a motion asking the Public Service Commission to dismiss the application for the MPRP, a 500,000-volt transmission line…

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November 3, 2025

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

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

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

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

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