Consultant tells Bladensburg to 'stay ready' as FY27 budget tightens; flags Mason's Law, voting‑rights risk

Kelly Bethea, a legislative and government associate with LA Perez Consulting, told the Bladensburg Town Council on Monday that the fiscal and regulatory changes from the 2026 Maryland legislative session mean the town will need to prioritize readiness and compliance for fiscal year 2027.

"The state and county fiscal environment is tighter now," Bethea said during a 30‑minute briefing. "Municipal compliance demands are growing, and Bladensburg will most likely be successful if it enters the next session with a short data‑backed and grant‑ready agenda." She summarized the advice as ‘‘constrained, comply, and compete.’’

Why it matters: Bethea said the FY27 state budget is balanced largely through one‑time actions, transfers and mandate adjustments, not ongoing new support. That means less flexible aid for local services and sharper competition for grants and capital dollars. For Bladensburg, she urged aligning requests with county priorities — pedestrian safety, stormwater, public safety, housing stability — and having maps, cost estimates and measurable outcomes ready when grant windows open.

Key compliance items flagged

- Mason's Law: Bethea explained the new law requires municipalities to inventory open drainage inlets by July 1, 2027, and develop a prioritization plan by April 1, 2028, identifying inlets that pose the greatest safety risk. She recommended starting the inventory in Q3 2026.

- Revenue modernization (HB1142): a state task force will deliver recommendations by Dec. 1, 2026; Bethea said the town should prepare impact data on stormwater, road maintenance and other municipal costs to shape the conversation.

- Voting Rights Act of 2026: Bethea described this as a risk‑management issue and urged a proactive review of election structure, candidate access, polling logistics and language access to limit exposure to a potential challenge.

Council response and next steps

Council members pressed Bethea on timing for capital budget requests and coordination with county and state delegations. Bethea advised submitting requests "as early as possible," and recommended pre‑session briefings with county budget officials and the state delegation this fall.

Bethea closed by recommending four actions for council direction: authorizing Mason's Law drainage inventory work, directing staff to prepare a three‑to‑five‑year fiscal and grant‑match forecast, prioritizing three grant‑ready projects for 2027 advocacy, and scheduling pre‑session briefings with county and state decisionmakers.

The council did not take a formal vote on those recommendations during the work session but asked staff to return with timelines and cost estimates for possible inclusion in the town's preparatory work.