March 1, 2019

Bracing for Bad News In Next Week’s Revenue Update

Budget Secretary David Brinkley all but promised that the early-March revenue update will bring a lowering of the State’s official forecast. That means a tighter fit for this year’s fiscal plan. Legislative analysts have already outlined a “menu” of possible reductions, and on Friday a “reconciliation bill” was introduced to provide a vessel for possible statutory changes and fund transfers that may be part of a State reaction. This year’s unusually calm budget process just got a little less calm, as the details still loom.

Conduit Street coverage | DLS Report | Legislative BRFA

MACo NG911 Initiative Moves to Senate Floor MACo Stands Behind 9-1-1 Specialists on Local Option Tax Benefits MACo: Bill on Small Cells Removes Public Input and Transparency, Favors Corporate Interests

MACo Proposes Amendments to School Construction Bill to Enable Accessibility for All Counties $15 Minimum Wage, Slowed and Amended, Moves to House Floor Cameras, Doors, Vestibules Top List of School Safety Grant Uses

What Might Be On “Chopping Block” If Revenues Sink? Howard Council to Consider Mobile Home Tax Repeal Counties Seek Expansion of Grant Program to Boost Capital Projects for Behavioral Health

QAC Broadband Committee Presents Recommendations to County Commissioners City Housing Department Targets Four Zones for Community Development Counties Call for Equitable Tax Treatment of Short-Term Rentals

Revive Local Health Funding Today for a Better Tomorrow Re-prioritizing Public Health: Counties Call for Increase in Local Health Funds Local Training and Technical Assistance for Addiction and Mental Health Services

MACo: Bill Pits Costs Against Public Safety Operating Needs Counties Against Needlessly Shackling Speed Camera Programs

MACo: Modernize Waterway Improvement Fund Financing Counties Urge Conowingo Cleanup Before Certification

Todd Mohn to Become Queen Anne’s Administrator SCOTUS Issues Decision on Excessive Property Forfeiture Seizures & Fines

Conduit Street Podcast Corner:

Conduit Street Podcast: Committee Crunch Time, Public Safety Pop-Ups, and More!

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson, Kevin Kinnally, and Natasha Mehu discuss the latest news and notes from Annapolis, including a week of big hearings on Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911), funding for local health departments, school construction, and small cell wireless siting, a proposal to ban the use of  public genealogical databases to solve criminal cases, and examine the impact of a recent Supreme Court decision holding that civil asset forfeiture at the state and local level must occur under the same constitutional protections against excessive fines as they do at the federal level.

Listen to any MACo Podcast Episode: www.mdcounties.org/Podcast

Counties Testify

HB 397 Counties testified in support of HB 397 - Public Safety 9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System

SB 645 Counties testified in support of SB 645 - Local Health Services Funding - Modifications

SB 713 Counties testified in support of SB 713 - Wireless Facilities - Permitting and Sitting

Corporate Partner Corner

Become a Corporate Partner in Time for Summer Conference!

Summer Conference Benefits: • Choose your sponsorship • Complimentary Registrations • Free Exhibit Booth • Complimentary Golf Tee Times • Corporate Partner Dinner • And More!

Learn more about being a MACo Corporate Partner

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