Read more about the article St. Mary’s County Commissioner Randy Guy to Receive MACo’s Praisner Public Service Award
County News / Winter Conference
St. Mary’s County Commissioner Randy Guy to Receive MACo’s Praisner Public Service Award

MACo’s annual Praisner Public Service Award celebrates extraordinary service to the people of Maryland. St. Mary's County Commissioner President and current MACo Board Member, Randy Guy, will receive the 2025 award.  MACo is delighted to announce the recipient of the 2025 Marilyn J. Praisner Public Service Award, established to honor the remarkable legacy of Marilyn J. Praisner, former Montgomery County Council Member and MACo Past President. With support from the Local Government Insurance Trust, this…

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November 24, 2025
Read more about the article 2 Weeks Out: Friday Sessions You Can’t Miss at #MACoCon
News You Can Use / Winter Conference
2 Weeks Out: Friday Sessions You Can’t Miss at #MACoCon

MACo’s Winter Conference (December 10-12) will be packed with timely content on housing, technology, and fiscal readiness, all aimed at helping counties navigate uncertainty and prepare for the 2026 legislative session. Here are two sessions that will close out the #MACoCon experience with clear next steps for Maryland’s counties: General Session 2026 General Assembly ForecastSponsored by DMI, Inc. What's in store for the 2026 legislative session? From fiscal outlooks to pending policy changes, this is…

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November 24, 2025
Read more about the article Howard County’s “Path Toward Zero” Plan To End Homelessness at #MACoCon
County News / Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development / Winter Conference
Howard County’s “Path Toward Zero” Plan To End Homelessness at #MACoCon

Howard County is reshaping its homelessness response system with the release of a new five-year strategic plan designed to streamline services, expand housing options, and strengthen prevention efforts. Howard County has released a new roadmap to strengthen its homelessness response system and move the community toward “functional zero,” the point at which the number of residents experiencing homelessness consistently remains below the county’s ability to house them. This roadmap builds on the draft plan that…

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November 24, 2025
Read more about the article Keeping Pace with Growth: The Role of Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances
Energy / Environment / Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning / Transportation and Public Works / Winter Conference
Keeping Pace with Growth: The Role of Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances

APFOs are a key tool for managing growth and infrastructure. Learn how counties leverage these policies to achieve better policy outcomes.  Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances (APFOs) help counties manage growth by linking new development to the capacity of schools, roads, water, sewer, and other services so infrastructure and taxpayers aren’t overwhelmed. They’ve also become controversial, with critics arguing that strict standards or long delays can be used to block housing, drive up costs, or push…

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November 24, 2025
Read more about the article Navigating Trust and Collaboration: Counties Protecting Public Health Together
County News / Health and Human Services / NACo and Federal Issues / Winter Conference
Navigating Trust and Collaboration: Counties Protecting Public Health Together

Maryland’s public health challenges show up in emergency rooms, school classrooms, and county budgets. As conditions shift and federal support fluctuates, counties are being asked to do more with less while still earning and sustaining the trust of the communities they serve. Public health in Maryland is navigating a period of rapid change. Counties are balancing rising service demands with evolving federal expectations, fragmented funding streams, and increasingly complex health needs, from behavioral health and…

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November 24, 2025
Read more about the article Data Centers Take Center Stage for Large County Coalition at #MACoCon
Energy / Information Technology / Winter Conference
Data Centers Take Center Stage for Large County Coalition at #MACoCon

Maryland’s largest counties sit at the center of a national surge in data center development. Demand for cloud services, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and high-performance computing continues to rise, and counties now face new questions about land use, energy infrastructure, workforce pipelines, and long-term fiscal impact. While data centers bring significant tax revenue and infrastructure investment, they also create real challenges: power availability, community compatibility, emergency response needs, and the complexity of coordinating with utilities and…

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November 24, 2025
Read more about the article Environmental Justice Screening – Building Equity Into Communities at #MACoCon
Environment / Winter Conference
Environmental Justice Screening – Building Equity Into Communities at #MACoCon

As covered recently on Conduit Street, counties and municipalities looking to promote and further environmental justice (EJ) are experiencing some challenges and some support when it comes to their state and federal partners. Recent federal administration actions have rolled back and even eliminated grant funding for EJ programs, while the US Supreme Court additionally narrowed the scope of federal environmental impact reviews. Under these circumstances, local governments looking to protect land and communities from adverse environmental…

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November 24, 2025
Read more about the article Understanding Maryland’s New Hospital Rate Setting Model and What It Means for the Future
Winter Conference
Understanding Maryland’s New Hospital Rate Setting Model and What It Means for the Future

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 CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield! About CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield: In its 88th year of service, CareFirst, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit healthcare companies which, through its affiliates and subsidiaries, offers a comprehensive portfolio of health insurance products…

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November 24, 2025
Read more about the article Revised Bay Watershed Agreement Could Help Protect Local Tourism Industry
Environment / Tourism / Winter Conference
Revised Bay Watershed Agreement Could Help Protect Local Tourism Industry

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced recent revisions to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement to improve wildlife populations, reduce water pollutants, and restore habitat. With a localized approach, officials hope to protect and sustain economic opportunities including local tourism industries.  According to a recent press release, Maryland representatives joined officials from around the Mid-Atlantic region to put forth a revised Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement that includes firm timelines, required pollution reductions, and ambitious goals…

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November 24, 2025
Read more about the article Carroll Earns Top-Notch Credit Ratings, Completes Successful Bond Sale
County News / Finance and Procurement / Winter Conference
Carroll Earns Top-Notch Credit Ratings, Completes Successful Bond Sale

Carroll County held all three AAA credit ratings again this week and completed its latest bond sale at favorable terms, keeping borrowing costs down as the County moves forward with major capital projects. Fitch Ratings, S&P Global Ratings, and Moody’s each reaffirmed their highest ratings for the County, placing Carroll among a small group of jurisdictions nationwide that maintain top marks across all agencies. The County sold $31.5 million in new bonds at an interest…

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November 21, 2025
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