On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Lori Stone joins Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson to discuss  FirstNet -- the first high-speed, nationwide wireless broadband network dedicated to public safety. This reliable, highly secure, interoperable, and innovative public safety communications platform brings 21st-century tools and technology to first responders and the extended public safety community.

Lori Stone is a Senior Public Safety Advisor (DC, MD, NC, VA, WV) at the First Responder Network Authority, an independent agency within the US Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) that oversees FirstNet.

FirstNet is a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership between the federal government and AT&T. FirstNet offers public safety a communications network built to their operational and technical needs that helps them save lives and protect our communities.

Since being founded in 2012, the FirstNet Authority has collaborated with local, state, federal, and tribal public safety in every state and US territory to understand and incorporate their unique communication needs into the plans for FirstNet. Learn more about the FirstNet Authority's history.

The Conduit Street Podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple, Google, and more. Episodes are also available on MACo's  Conduit Street blog.

Listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.

Useful Links

FirstNet Built with AT&T

First Responder Network Authority

Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Putting FirstNet to the Test for Remote 9-1-1 Operations at #MACoCon

Previous Conduit Street Coverage: 9-1-1 To Go – Live Demo and Discussion at #MACoCon

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson walk through MACo's Legislative Initiatives for the 2023 Maryland General Assembly Session.

Counties will prioritize transparency, local decision-making, public safety, and schools in the 2023 session. MACo's Legislative Committee will take positions on hundreds of bills, but these four issues serve as the Association's priorities for the year.

The Conduit Street Podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple, Google, and more. Episodes are also available on MACo's Conduit Street blog.

Listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.

Useful Links

Previous Conduit Street Coverage: MACo Announces 2023 Legislative Initiatives

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally, Brianna January, and Michael Sanderson discuss the significance of the Capital Debt Affordability Committee (CDAC), preview its upcoming meetings, and explain why the CDAC recommendations are often a forerunner for Maryland's short- and long-term fiscal picture.

CDAC, chaired by State Treasurer Derick Davis, will meet on October 11, 14, and 19, 2022, to discuss the State's fiscal health and consider the limit on new state capital debt for the next fiscal year.

The Conduit Street Podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple, Google, and more. Episodes are also available on MACo's Conduit Street blog.

Listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.

Useful Links

Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Capital Debt Affordability Committee Sets Agenda for First Meeting Amid Quirky Year

Conduit Street Podcast: Crystal Ball on the State's Budget Surplus and Process

This week, we're reposting an oldie but a goodie. In this episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson discuss property taxes and why people despise the property tax more than any other.

The property tax is the largest source of local revenue for Maryland's county governments. Counties depend on property tax revenue to fund public health, schools, public safety, roadway maintenance, and other essential public services upon which all county residents depend.

Yet, people hate the property tax more than other taxes. Why? Maybe it's because the property tax is the only tax left on the books for which people must write a big check.

Income taxes and Social Security contributions are withheld from paychecks before the recipients get their hands on the money. Merchants and other businesses remit sales taxes. The property tax is the only tax that a regular person gets a bill and has to pay it.

Is the property tax a tax on consumption (your house's cost)? If so, the tax is regressive because housing costs take a bigger bite from low-income household budgets. Or is the property tax a tax on capital (your return to owning a house)? If so, the tax would be progressive on average (because capital owners tend to be wealthier).

The Conduit Street Podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple, Google, and more. Episodes are also available on MACo's Conduit Street blog.

Listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson break down the driving factors behind another multi-billion unanticipated budget surplus for the State of Maryland and what it could mean for the next legislative session.

The Conduit Street Podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple, Google, and more. Episodes are also available on MACo's Conduit Street blog.

Listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.

Useful Links

Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Fed Raises Interest Rates Another 75 Basis Points, Predicts Future Hikes to Tame Inflation

Previous Conduit Street Coverage: State Closes with $2B Surplus, School Construction to Get Boost

Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Statewide Ballot Questions Pass Comfortably

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson discuss Maryland's agritourism property tax structure.

Maryland was the first state to formally adopt a policy providing lower assessments on land actively devoted to farming or woodland uses. It is called the "agricultural use assessment" and applies to farmland or woodland that meets the criteria outlined in State law.

Many counties are interested in promoting agricultural tourism to support the agricultural industry. Agritourism can be a means of keeping farms profitable during times of low production, and it offers opportunities to highlight Maryland counties' unique agrarian assets. However, defining these activities for tax purposes is tricky.

The Conduit Street Podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more. Episodes are also available on MACo's Conduit Street blog.

Listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.

Useful Links

Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Ag Assessment Bill Moving With MACo Amendments

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, D'Paul Nibber joins Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson to discuss new developments and guidance for implementing the Police Accountability Act. Plus, learn why a new wrinkle in the historic settlement between the State of Maryland and opioid manufacturers/distributors is delaying needed resources for local governments to save even more Marylanders from the terrible problems of opioid abuse.

Update: Post recording, two consent judgments were filed in Maryland's Circuit Court for Frederick County, allowing settlement funds from Johnson and Johnson and several major opioid medication distributors to flow to the State and local governments.

The Conduit Street Podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more. Episodes are also available on MACo's Conduit Street blog.

Listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.

Useful Links

Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Final Hurdle Cleared in Opioid Settlements' Disbursement

Previous Conduit Street Coverage: DLS Analyzes Police Oversight Regs

Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Counties Sign On to Historic $400 Million Opioid Settlements

Counties can’t rely on yesterday’s approaches to solve tomorrow’s problems. The core mission of local government is to serve residents, ensuring the safety and well-being of all people. Innovation is necessary to accomplish this today. With advanced analytics, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, counties can put data to work, improving outcomes for residents.

At the MACo Summer Conference Podcast Spotlight session, SAS Global Government Strategic Advisor Jennifer Robinson joined Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson for a live recording of the Conduit Street Podcast. Learn how SAS supports counties in achieving better customer service, increasing constituent engagement, enhancing public safety and community trust, fostering economic growth, and more.

Thanks to SAS for sponsoring this session!

• Learn more about SAS
• Follow SAS on Twitter
• Follow Jennifer Robinson on Twitter

Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference:

• Full Program
• #MACoCon Twitter Coverage
• Conduit Street Blog Coverage

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson dive into how property tax caps work in Maryland. While proponents argue that tax caps encourage economic growth and opportunity, opponents worry that capping revenues depletes limited local resources. And nuances in Maryland law add complexity to the issue.

The Conduit Street Podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more. Episodes are also available on MACo’s Conduit Street blog.

Listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, MACo Communications Coordinator Victoria Maas joins Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson to preview the 2022 MACo Summer Conference, August 17-20 in Ocean City. MACo and county leaders will explore resources available for recovering and struggling businesses, creative ways to achieve common goals, and partnerships to take our communities from “surviving” to “thriving.”

The Conduit Street Podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more. Episodes are also available on MACo’s Conduit Street blog.

Listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.

Taking the call from anywhere: Testing remote 911 capabilities

The MACo Summer Conference is August 17-20, 2022, at the Roland Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, Maryland. This year’s conference theme is “Taking Care of Business.”

Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference:

• Attendee Registration Pricing
• Attendee Online Registration
• Exhibitor Details & Pricing
• Exhibitor Registration
• Sponsorship Opportunities
• Tech Expo Details
• Golf Tournament Details
• Discounted Hotel Room Rates
• Conduit Street Blog Coverage
• #MACoCon on Twitter
• Questions? Contact Virginia White