MAKO warns commissioners: Maryland budget gap, energy demand and solar siting will keep pressure on counties

A delegation from the Maryland Association of Counties (MAKO) told Carroll County commissioners June 5 that a large state budget shortfall and national energy demand trends are likely to keep pressure on local governments for the foreseeable future.

Michael Sanderson, MAKO director, said the state faced “a $3,000,000,000-and-change crisis in the state’s budget,” a shortfall that is reshaping legislative outcomes and limiting options for additional state-funded programs. "Fiscal stuff of this consequence just changes the whole debate," Sanderson said, adding that some policy choices now carry steep fiscal notes that constrain passage.

Sanderson said one consequence is that the legislature and governor have moved some costs and functions toward counties rather than reducing service levels at the state level. He cited as examples proposed invoicing of county governments for certain state functions and shifts in highway-user revenues and teacher pension costs. "They've been sending us a bill for 50% of the cost of the assessments function that's run by the state. Now it's going to be 90%," he said, and warned that teacher pension invoicing could present an additional large fiscal exposure for counties.

Energy, solar…