Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the State Budget Blueprint topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
MACo leaders tell Howard County council state budget shortfalls could squeeze local services and school plans
Summary
MACo president Johnny Olszewski and executive director Michael Sanderson warned Howard County officials that multi‑year state budget pressures and implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future may force difficult choices for counties, including timing changes and requests for more local flexibility.
Johnny Olszewski, president of the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) and Baltimore County executive, and Michael Sanderson, MACo executive director, told the Howard County Council on the organization’s role and the fiscal risks they expect in Annapolis.
"The state's general fund budget is on the order of $25,000,000,000 for a 1 year budget," Sanderson said, framing the scale of the challenge. He said the state currently faces a structural gap of "6 or $800,000,000" in ongoing revenues versus ongoing spending and warned that the fiscal picture could worsen in FY28 when one‑time funds run out.
Sanderson described three broad options for the state—tighten general spending, slow or revise portions of the 10‑year Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, or identify new revenue sources—and said any substantial change would require the governor and both legislative chambers to cooperate. "Everything's gotta be on the table," he said, characterizing public comments from the governor at the recent MACo conference.
Olszewski added that COVID‑era enrollment and labor market shifts have made implementation more difficult than planners anticipated, and he urged greater local flexibility to meet Blueprint obligations without unduly burdening county tax bases. "We need more flexibility, particularly at the local level," Olszewski said.
The council used the briefing to press MACo on what original Blueprint assumptions were and what county officials should expect in the coming legislative session. Sanderson said MACo is convening cross‑sector discussions—including county administrators, superintendents and CFOs—to translate policy goals into practical, implementable steps at the local level.
The exchange ended with MACo and council members agreeing on the need for continued coordination and for MACo to press the legislature on implementation details and timelines. The MACo delegation said it will return to brief the council again in December.
