'Your papers, please' must never be heard in America
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
An expected special session this month could be a double-edged sword for counties that stand to gain revenues, but could also face millions in new costs.
Local leaders in Maryland say a proposed state mandate on local education funding goes too far in dictating the fiscal decisions made by county governments.
Conservative lawmakers have won a skirmish in what they call a "War on Rural Maryland," getting state officials to delay implementing a land-development plan until a Senate committee has its say.
"At the end of the day, there's going to be a big new pressure on county governments as a result of the shift," said Michael Sanderson, executive director of the Maryland Association of Counties. "It's not like county governments have one good option and one rotten option — we're facing a pretty tough budget situation as far as the state goes."
