This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson break down where Maryland’s budget and “Big BRFA” stand as the General Assembly enters its final weeks. As usual, their conversation covers a wide range of issues. From the teacher pension cost shift and assisted outpatient treatment proposal to disparity grant funding, the 911 Trust Fund, emergency management readiness, and the latest wrinkle tied to law enforcement funding – our hosts unpack what stayed in, what came out, and ultimately what this all means for local governments. Plus, find out why next year’s budget picture might be even tougher…

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MACo's Legislative Tracking Database

As Maryland’s legislative session approaches crossover, MACo’s policy team is deep in the work of shaping legislation that affects counties across the state.

In this episode of the Conduit Street podcast, Michael Sanderson is joined by Karrington Anderson and Charlotte Fleckenstein (making her podcast debut), as they walk through what advocacy looks like in real time. From testifying on complex labor policy to weighing in on unexpected issues like statewide “dogs at large” laws, there's never a dull moment.

The conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at how MACo approaches legislation. Whether the issue is workforce policy, public safety, or economic development, a consistent theme comes to the fore - one size does not fit all when it comes to Maryland’s counties.

Listeners will also hear how MACo provides critical context to state policymakers, why local governments face unique fiscal constraints, and what to watch as the General Assembly heads into the final stretch of the legislative session.

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MACo's Legislative Tracking Database

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, we check in on the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session as lawmakers approach the critical crossover deadline.

MACo’s Michael Sanderson, Dominic Butchko, and Kevin Kinnally break down where things stand in Annapolis, including the state budget outlook, mounting fiscal pressure on legislation, and a surge of housing bills aimed at addressing affordability across Maryland.

The conversation also explores how counties are working with legislators to refine housing proposals, why infrastructure such as schools and water systems remains central to development discussions, and how MACo continues to weigh in on hundreds of bills affecting county government.

With crossover approaching, the team shares what to watch in the coming weeks and where major issues may be headed next.

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On this episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson sits down with Dr. Roger E. Hartley of the University of Baltimore’s College of Public Affairs for a wide-ranging discussion on the future of public service in Maryland.

Hartley reflects on his decade as dean and discusses how institutions of higher learning can better partner with state and local governments to strengthen leadership pipelines, modernize workforce training, and meet emerging challenges. Drawing on the Certified Public Manager program and paid public service internships, the conversation explores how to fill that county-university gap.

They also examine broader themes facing public service today, such as an aging workforce, breaking down silos between agencies, and the need for interdisciplinary solutions to health, housing, and sustainability.

In true Conduit Street fashion, this episode even ventures into music, craft beer, and Dr. Hartley’s plans visit all 122 Maryland breweries.

If you care about the future of local government, workforce development, and the evolving mission of public service, this podcast episode was recorded just for you!

Check out Pitchfork's 50 Best Albums of 2025

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As Maryland lawmakers weigh how to address a looming transportation “cliff,” local leaders are sounding the alarm about what’s at stake for local roads and bridges.

In this special episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, hosts Michael Sanderson and Shantelle Malcolm-Lym bring listeners inside the February 3 Senate Budget and Taxation Committee hearing on Senate Bill 288, legislation aimed at stabilizing Highway User Revenues for local governments.

This episode features testimony from local officials, public works leaders, and other elected officials from across Maryland, all making the case that predictable transportation funding is essential for road safety, snow removal, emergency response, and long-term infrastructure maintenance. Speakers detail how years of underfunding have created backlogs, deferred maintenance, and increased fiscal pressures on local budgets, and most importantly, why falling off the FY28 funding cliff would make those challenges worse.

Listen for a full breakdown of the local perspective and why SB 288 is a critical step toward restoring balance in the State–local transportation partnership.

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In this week’s episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, our familiar hosts Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson take the microphone to walk us through Governor Wes Moore’s proposed FY27 budget and the accompanying Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act – or as Michael likes to call it, “Big BRFA.”

They break down the topline numbers, explain how the budget closes a projected shortfall, and examine what the plan ultimately means for local services – including education funding growth, some spending changes, but roughly $200 million in new and continued cost shifts to county governments. The conversation also dives into capped formulas, pension cost shifts, community college funding limits, and proposals affecting 9-1-1, public health services, and disparity grants. A full plate, for a busy session ahead.

As the General Assembly begins its work, this episode sets the stage for the fiscal debates ahead and explains why counties, again, remain central to Maryland’s budget decisions.

What Do You Do About Fluky Formulas?
DLS Fiscal Briefing Warns of Mounting Cost Shifts and Budget Gaps

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As flu season intensifies and public health misinformation continues to circulate, counties remain on the front lines of protecting community health.

In this episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson and Karrington Anderson are joined by Dr. Meena Brewster, Health Officer for St. Mary’s County, to discuss how local health departments operate as both strategists and first responders within Maryland’s shared public health system. The conversation explores this year’s challenging flu season, vaccine confidence, and the role counties play in delivering trusted, science-based guidance to residents.

Dr. Brewster also highlights St. Mary’s County’s innovative Health Hub, a MACo award-winning, nationally recognized integrated model that brings behavioral health, crisis services, and community supports together to better serve residents and reduce strain on emergency and justice systems. The episode closes with a broader look at Maryland’s Commission on Public Health and the long-term investments needed to strengthen public health infrastructure across the state.

Learn More:

• Building the Future of Maryland Public Health
• Safeguard Vaccine Access for Marylanders Vax Act of 2026

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As Maryland heads into the 2026 General Assembly session, county governments are confronting a familiar challenge, but with sharper edges.

In this episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, MACo’s Kevin Kinnally, Michael Sanderson, and Dominic Butchko break down why affordability is the defining theme of the upcoming session. From rising construction and labor costs to housing shortages, energy prices, and growing uncertainty out of Washington, counties are feeling pressure from every direction, often faster than revenues can keep pace.

The conversation explores how budget constraints shape legislative priorities, why housing and energy policy are increasingly intertwined, and how federal workforce instability and shrinking grant support ripple directly into county services. Our hosts also examine what an election year, new House leadership, committee reshuffling, and potential redistricting debates could mean for legislative bandwidth and compromise.

If you want to understand why this session feels different, and what counties should be watching as lawmakers return to Annapolis, this episode sets the stage.

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