Conduit Street Podcast

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 conce...

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...

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...

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 pu...

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....

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson talks with Ben Yelin of the Center for Health and Homeland Security about the rapid growth of artificial intelligence technology. They discuss these capabilities' exciting opportunities and potential downsides – and their connections to public services and privacy. Public policy often struggles to keep up with the pace of...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater joins Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson to discuss fast-growing Frederick - both as a challenge and an opportunity. Attracting major technology companies presents unique challenges, but the upside is good jobs and local leverage into a vast commercial growth sector. The technology sector is driving...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson walk through the recently introduced 2025 fiscal plan, starting the weeks-long deliberation on the State budget and the trimmings to balance it. They discuss the long-term cuts to transportation, offset by a temporary reprieve for this year, and the "re-basing" of support for community colleges. A t...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson and Brianna January talk through the 2024 legislative session opening, the crazy Maryland weather sideshow, and what to expect heading into “year two” of the four-year cycle. They discuss several issues for the session ahead – like tackling child care and pre-kindergarten education, challenges in the public sector workforce, an...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Queen Anne's County Administrator Todd Mohn joins Michael Sanderson to discuss transportation financing and reflect on the proposed cutbacks to state projects and grant funding. Mr. Mohn is a member of the State's blue-ribbon Transportation Commission, reflecting his extensive experience as a county engineer and public works profession...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson and Kevin Kinnally discuss the latest news and notes from Annapolis. As temperatures drop, things are heating up before the 2024 legislative session. Topics include education spending transparency, career and volunteer firefighter recruitment and retention, energy issues, housing, and fiscal uncertainties. Plus, drones, Twitter...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Andrew Griffin , vice president of government affairs at the Maryland Chamber of Commerce , joins Kevin Kinnally to discuss the intersection of business and government and discuss major issues on tap for the 2024 legislative session. Topics include tax policy, transportation, housing, regulations, data privacy, paid family leave, and more! The M...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Brianna January and Dominic Butchko join Kevin Kinnally to walk through MACo's Legislative Initiatives for the 2024 Maryland General Assembly Session . In the 2024 General Assembly Session, MACo will prioritize fiscal transparency, modernizing local revenue structures, new incentives to bolster firefighter and EMS recruitment and retention,...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson welcomes Kevin Leonard from the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners. They discuss state politics, tricky budgeting, and the NC investments into broadband and water infrastructure. The Conduit Street Podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple, Google, and anywhere else you get your podcasts. Episo...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson break down the driving factors behind Maryland's current fiscal picture, economic trends, and what it could mean for the next legislative session and beyond. As previously reported on Conduit Street , the Board of Revenue Estimates adopted a revised estimate for fiscal 2024 – a  minor write-down of $14.1...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Calvert County Health Officer Dr. Larry Polsky joins Sarah Sample to discuss what local health departments are doing to prevent COVID-19 and other flu and flu-like infections this year. The 2023-2024 fall and winter seasons will be the first since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that the country is not under a federal state of emergency....

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Walter Olson joins Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson to reflect on the role of state and local governments in keeping residents safe during emergencies -- particularly when it comes to ensuring residents can cast a ballot during a public health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. Olson provides expert analysis on how the courts, legislatures,...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Sarah Sample and Michael Sanderson discuss the pros and cons of the "user pays" principle -- which aims to promote fairness and economic efficiency by having those who benefit from particular government goods and services pay for them. The Conduit Street Podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple, Google, and anywhere...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Moyah Panda and Ethan Hunt join Sarah Sample to discuss the role of police accountability boards and administrative charging committees in working with county governments and law enforcement agencies to improve policing and police accountability across Maryland. In keeping with the legislative mandate from 2021, all 24 Maryland counties have est...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson and Dominic Butchko discuss transportation funding and the significance of the Maryland Commission on Transportation Revenue and Infrastructure Needs, which is charged with recommending improvements to existing transportation revenues, investment decisions, and more. For decades, the State supported a balanced means to maintain...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally welcomes Ben Yelin to discuss cybersecurity issues, explore the opportunities and challenges related to rapidly evolving artificial intelligence (AI) technology, and more! Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to transform the world and how we live, work, and communicate. For county governments, AI can mean streamlined processes,...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson and Brianna January walk through the annual decision meeting of Maryland’s Accountability and Implementation Board as they offer new guidance, direction, and measurables for the ambitious Blueprint for Maryland. The state is refining its framework for pre-kindergarten providers and educators, realigning expectations and service...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson and Sarah Sample welcome back Director Brandon Foster from the Charles County Detention Center for a follow-up discussion on policy issues affecting local corrections – a central public service Maryland counties deliver for their communities. The scope of local corrections – generally far shorter duration of stay, and many of t...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Tom Coale joins Michael Sanderson and Dominic Butchko to discuss all things housing, including concerns over affordability, access, and more. Topics include infrastructure, better collaboration on new policies and ideas, streamlining processes and procedures, and empowering local governments to develop tailored solutions to incentivize more affo...