Maryland Association of Counties

Maryland Association of Counties is a statewide nonprofit membership organization representing county and city jurisdictions across the U.S. state of Maryland. It provides training, research, advocacy, and intergovernmental coordination for elected officials and county staff, maintaining ties with state, regional, and federal entities. The association engages with legislative bodies, executive agencies, and local authorities to influence policy outcomes affecting public administration, land use, public safety, and fiscal matters.

History

The association was founded amid postwar reforms that reshaped local administration during the mid-20th century, alongside contemporaneous institutions such as the National Association of Counties, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the Council of State Governments. Early interactions involved Maryland entities like the Maryland General Assembly, the Office of the Governor of Maryland, the State House (Annapolis), and the Maryland State Archives. Over decades the group worked with agencies including the Maryland Department of Transportation, the Maryland Department of Planning, the Maryland Department of Health, and the Maryland Department of the Environment on issues spanning infrastructure, zoning, and public health. Significant historic events affecting its agenda included the expansion of the Interstate Highway System, litigation such as cases heard by the Supreme Court of the United States, and state statutory reforms enacted by sessions of the Maryland General Assembly. Collaborations extended to regional partners like the Chesapeake Bay Program, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, and federal programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Organization and Governance

The association’s governance structure mirrors models used by organizations like the National Governors Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the American Planning Association. Its board includes county executives, commission members, and county council presidents comparable to officials in jurisdictions such as Montgomery County, Maryland, Prince George's County, Maryland, Baltimore County, Maryland, and Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Executive leadership liaises with state offices including the Office of the Attorney General of Maryland and municipal leaders from Baltimore, Frederick, Maryland, and Rockville, Maryland. Committees draw expertise from partners including the Maryland Association of County Health Officers, the Maryland Association of School Superintendents, and advocacy groups such as the Maryland Chamber of Commerce and the AARP Maryland.

Programs and Services

The association administers training programs resembling offerings from the International City/County Management Association and professional development through partnerships with institutions such as the University of Maryland, College Park, the Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Baltimore. It publishes research and guides which inform planning efforts tied to initiatives like the Chesapeake Bay Program and grants coordinated with the National Endowment for the Arts, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Technical assistance programs support emergency preparedness in coordination with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and public safety officials from the Maryland State Police and local fire and EMS chiefs. The association also convenes conferences where speakers have included representatives from the Brookings Institution, the Urban Institute, the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, and the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Advocacy and Policy Positions

Advocacy efforts align with stakeholders such as the Maryland General Assembly, the U.S. Congress, the Governor of Maryland, and regulatory bodies like the Maryland Public Service Commission. Policy priorities have included fiscal matters involving the Maryland Department of Budget and Management, land-use policy implicating the Maryland Department of Planning, infrastructure projects coordinated with the Maryland Transportation Authority, and environmental regulations intersecting with the Maryland Department of the Environment and the Chesapeake Bay Program. The association engages in legislative testimony before committees of the Maryland Senate and the Maryland House of Delegates, and coordinates legal strategies with counsel experienced in filings before the Maryland Court of Appeals and federal courts including the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. It often collaborates with advocacy organizations such as the Maryland League of Conservation Voters, the Maryland Retailers Association, and labor groups like the Maryland State and District Council of Machinists on policy positions.

Membership and Funding

Membership comprises elected officials and staff from counties such as Howard County, Maryland, Carroll County, Maryland, Calvert County, Maryland, Harford County, Maryland, and municipalities including Baltimore City. Funding sources include dues, program fees, conference revenue, and grants from foundations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and federal grant programs administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The association’s fiscal practices reflect standards promoted by organizations like the Government Finance Officers Association and auditing norms in coordination with firms that audit public entities, interacting with offices such as the Maryland State Treasurer and the Comptroller of Maryland.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Maryland Category:Organizations established in 1953