ANNAPOLIS — Costs to local and municipal governments related to a U.S. Supreme Court decision on some local tax payments could grow beyond an initial $140 million estimate if eligible taxpayers successfully challenge an interest rate set by the state ...

Tagged with: counties Supreme Court Taxes

CUMBERLAND — A coalition of rural counties is planning an economic summit next month in Annapolis to get the word out about the importance of rural communities to Maryland’s economy. The Cumberland Times-News reports that the Maryland Rural Counties Coalition ...

Tagged with: breaking news counties cumberland Economy maryland News rural summit western maryland

WESTMINSTER — A group is calling for five western Maryland counties to secede and form their own state. Scott Strzelczyk, leader of the Western Maryland Initiative, says people are fed up with the liberal majority and want an “amicable divorce.” ...

Tagged with: allegany county counties frederick Government maryland washington western maryland westminster

Local governments can stop homeowners from displaying certain signage on their property, most government information is public, and panhandlers have free reign on town and city streets.

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals cities convention counties General Assembly maryland Maryland Municipal League Montgomery County Ocean City Roland E. Powell Convention Center

ANNAPOLIS — A Maryland environmental group says some counties are meeting the requirements of a new state law that limits growth, but others are not. The group, 1000 Friends of Maryland, says that is putting rural areas of the state ...

Tagged with: counties Development development news environment news Government growth

WESTMINSTER — Many Maryland municipalities are balking at a state law aimed at stiffening their ethics rules. The Carroll County Times reports Thursday that nearly three-quarters of municipalities are claiming at least partial exemptions because of their size, budget constraints ...

Tagged with: counties Government maryland

WASHINGTON — New census numbers show the Washington region is home to six of the 10 counties with the highest household incomes in the country. Loudoun County, Va., topped the list with a median household income of about $119,000 in ...

Tagged with: census counties Economy fairfax county household income Howard County

State lawmakers may not be in the mood to get back together after a contentious end to the 2012 General Assembly, but some interested parties say a special session needs to happen sooner rather than later. Onlookers suggest the longer ...

Tagged with: baltimore city counties doomsday budget income tax legislature Martin O'Malley Maryland Association of Counties Michael E. Busch special session tax hike Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr.

ANNAPOLIS — The House of Delegates signed off Friday on a measure to limit where residential septic systems can be installed. The House voted 93-45 to approve the bill, which dictates that counties create a four-tiered system to limit where ...

Tagged with: counties Development Environment house of delegates rural senate septic systems

ANNAPOLIS — Four rural Maryland counties say they’re joining forces against a proposed statewide development plan called PlanMaryland. Allegany, Carroll, Frederick and Washington counties said Monday they have formed the Maryland Rural Counties Coalition, largely to lobby against the plan. ...

Tagged with: allegany county Annapolis carroll county counties department of planning Eastern Shore frederick county General Assembly planmaryland washington county