This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, hosts Dominic Butchko and Shantelle Malcolm-Lym are joined by Elizabeth Malasky, Queen Anne’s County Public Information Manager, and Sara Shelley, Co-Founder and President of Plastic Free QAC. They discuss Queen Anne’s County’s innovative program addressing boat plastic shrink wrap recycling, aiming to reduce the 30 tons of plastic waste generated annually. The program, a partnership with the Marine Trade Association of Maryland, offers a solution to recycle shrink wrap, involving marinas, commercial retailers, and private boat owners.

The initiative highlights the power of public-private partnerships and community collaboration in achieving sustainability goals. Tune in to learn more about this impactful program and how it could inspire similar initiatives across Maryland.

Show Notes:
Boat ShrinkWrap Recycle Program 

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, hosts Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson welcome Maryland Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman to discuss her role as a statewide fiscal and policy leader. They delve into the role of the Comptroller, Maryland's uniquely positioned Board of Public Works, and the Revenue Estimating process, as she shares some takeaways from research into Maryland's economy and underlying demographics. Be ready for some insight into the Maryland economy and the surprising fiscal and workforce effect of the state's foreign-born population. Listen in as they unpack these crucial topics and more with Comptroller Lierman.

Show Notes:
Maryland Board of Public Works 
Board of Revenue Estimates
Immigration and the Economy Report
State of the Economy Report
Follow Comptroller Lierman on Twitter

Join Dom Butchko from the MACo Policy Team on a special Earth Week episode of the Conduit Street Podcast as he welcomes Kristen Harbeson and Rebecca Rehr from the Maryland League of Conservation Voters (LCV). They discuss LCV's mission, priorities, and their impact on local governments, highlighting areas that overlap with county missions. The conversation delves into hot topics like solar siting, tools developed by LCV for counties, and challenges and future collaboration opportunities, including climate change and sea level rise. Tune in for insightful discussions and a preview of what's to come in the world of environmental advocacy!

Show notes:
Rooftop solar panels are flooding California’s grid. That’s a problem
Last Week's Podcast on Water

In the latest Conduit Street podcast episode, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson welcome back a popular guest, Dr. Mileah Kromer of Goucher Poll fame. Dr. Kromer talks through the findings and "vibes" from her recent polls, both statewide and in Baltimore. What issues are on the minds of Maryland voters as they consider elections ahead? What do they think of the current direction of Maryland and its economy, and how do they feel about the response to the Key Bridge collapse? And, as always, a few engaging bits about the Orioles and this-and-that from social media. Join us for a fun ride through policy, public opinion, and a timely "vibe check."

Show Notes:
https://www.goucher.edu/hughes-center/goucher-college-poll/
https://www.goucher.edu/hughes-center/
https://twitter.com/MileahKromer

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, Dominic Butchko from the MACo Policy Team is joined by Lisa Ochsenhirt from AquaLaw and Erik Michelsen from Anne Arundel County Dept of Public Works for a timely discussion on all things water. They'll discuss the latest on "forever chemicals," stream restoration, and the recently passed Whole Watershed Act of 2024. Plus, learn about the effects of sea level rise on Maryland's critical infrastructure. Tune in for this enlightening conversation!

Show Notes:
Overview of the Whole Watershed Act of 2024

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, join Sarah Sample and Dominic Butchko from the MACo Policy Team as they take listeners on a 'rapid round ride' through MACo's major portfolio of issues from the just-wrapped 2024 legislative session. From affordable housing to public safety, firefighters, and health, they'll highlight MACo's big wins and key county concerns. Plus, don't miss their sneak peek at the upcoming Summer Conference in Ocean City! Tune in now to catch all the excitement.

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson is joined by Shantelle Malcolm-Lym from the MACo team. They discuss the ongoing policy debates in Annapolis, particularly focusing on transportation funding cuts and their effect on local communities.

This special episode highlights an audio excerpt from a January 16, 2024, briefing in the Appropriation Committee. It features Mayor Brandon Scott discussing Baltimore City's longstanding needs, MACo President John “Johnny O” Olszewski, Jr. addressing the impact on Baltimore County and all counties, and our very own Michael Sanderson breaking down the "hows" and the "whys." Tune in to hear the compelling case against cutting back on Highway User Revenues and the potential service and safety cuts to communities.

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson talk through the 2024 legislative session wrapping up and top off recent discussions around the still-developing budget, the effects of the Key Bridge tragedy, and several more county government issues that remain "in play" during these always-eventful last weeks of the 90-day session.

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson talk through the Senate actions regarding the State's fiscal plan for the year ahead - the budget and accompanying reconciliation bill.

Cuts to Highway User Revenues (but not the deepest cuts on the table), some restored funding for our community colleges, and... some more work to do on county priorities. They discuss the two waves of bad news that made this year's budget even harder, and then speculate on what lies ahead as the session starts to wind down.

The Conduit Street Podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple, Google, and anywhere else you get your podcasts. Episodes are also available on MACo's Conduit Street blog.

Useful Links:
Conduit Street Coverage of State Budget & Fiscal Issues

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson and Shantelle Malcolm-Lym welcome guest Cathy Muse from the National Association of Counties Edge program. She talks through the various cost-saving tools available to all Maryland counties through NACo's partnerships that can help develop attractive employee benefits, manage public funds, and recruit top talent to the public sector.

Muse draws on her own experience as a procurement specialist to explain NACo's newly launched Public Promise Procurement offerings, leveraging a fully competitive lead-agency model to streamline major purchases by counties - another great tool to help counties get the most from their tax dollars.

Cathy has served in public procurement for over 40 years at the federal, state, and local levels. After retiring from Fairfax County, Virginia, where she served as the Chief Procurement Officer, Cathy joined the NACo EDGE team to develop procurement solutions for counties and launch Public Promise Procurement.

The Conduit Street Podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple, Google, and anywhere else you get your podcasts. Episodes are also available on MACo's Conduit Street blog.

Useful Links

National Association of Counties: Tools for Counties

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson discuss formula funding -- which aims to provide predictable and stable funding. But what happens when your funding formula… fails -- or at least delivers far less than expected?

This episode covers funding formulas for two programs important to county governments, the Disparity Grant and Program Open Space. These are two programs that Maryland policymakers set up many years ago… both have special funding by law, rather than just fighting each year in the budget debate… and both are going over a cliff this year.

The Disparity Grant Program provides noncategorical State aid to low-wealth jurisdictions. It promotes equity across jurisdictions to overcome disparate tax bases — ensuring that counties that rely on local income taxes for substantial revenue can generate sufficient yield to fund schools, public health, public safety, roadway maintenance, and other essential community services.

Established under the Department of Natural Resources in 1969, Program Open Space symbolizes Maryland's long-term commitment to conserving natural resources while providing exceptional outdoor recreation opportunities for residents.

The Conduit Street Podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple, Google, and anywhere else you get your podcasts. Episodes are also available on MACo's Conduit Street blog.