Conduit Street Podcast

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Local Revenue Flexibility Takes Center Stage Sep 04, 2026

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This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson break down the latest from Maryland’s Local Revenue Task Force and the options on the table as it considers how to modernize county and municipal revenue structures. They dig into property tax flexibility, commercial property rates, land value taxation, data centers, municipal tax setoffs, and what greater local flexibility could actually look like.

The conversation also takes a closer look at the State’s fiscal outlook and what counts as “aid” to local governments, even as nearly all of the recent growth goes to education and retirement costs. Plus, Kevin and Michael preview the Task Force’s September 14 public hearing, where counties can weigh in before recommendations take shape ahead of the 2027 legislative session.

Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Local Revenue Task Force Sets Public Hearing: Here’s How To Testify

Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Revenue Task Force Weighs Options for Modernizing Local Revenues

Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Revenue Task Force Convenes: Counties Shoulder 96% of Local Spending, But Revenue Tools Haven’t Kept Pace

The Briefing Room: The Hemlock Grove Playbook Sep 01, 2026

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For the final episode of The Briefing Room's housing finance series, the conversation heads west to Garrett County, where local leaders are putting many of the tools explored throughout the series into practice.

Dom Butchko and Baltimore County Housing and Community Development Director Terry Hickey are joined by Garrett County Commissioner Paul Edwards and Liz Georg of the Garrett County Housing Commission to explore Hemlock Grove, an innovative housing development designed to address a challenge familiar to communities across Maryland: local wages struggling to keep pace with the cost of housing.

The conversation examines the unique pressures shaping Garrett County's housing market, including the influence of Deep Creek Lake, limited infrastructure, and the challenge of retaining young professionals and families. Paul and Liz walk through how local government, nonprofits, community partners, and a newly created land trust came together to reduce development costs and create homes priced significantly below the surrounding market.

Along the way, they unpack how the land trust model can preserve affordability across generations, lessons learned from more than a decade of planning, and opportunities to strengthen Maryland's land trust framework for other jurisdictions looking to replicate the approach. It's a fitting conclusion to the housing finance series: a look at what happens when the financing, policy, partnerships, and local decision-making explored over seven episodes come together on the ground.

News or Noise: Blueprint Pressure, AI Surveillance, and College Sports Aug 27, 2026

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Summer Conference is in the rearview mirror, but many of the conversations shaping Maryland policy are just getting started.

In the latest round of News or Noise, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson are joined by Sarah Sample for a look at the headlines, policy debates, and emerging issues that could follow county leaders from #MACoCon into the 2027 legislative session.

The conversation starts with a look back at MACo’s Summer Conference before turning to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and whether an upcoming evaluation could lead lawmakers to reconsider pieces of the sweeping education reform plan amid mounting fiscal pressure. The group also digs into Maryland’s growing school construction needs, the funding gap facing counties, and the increasingly difficult prospect of local governments forward-funding major projects while waiting for the State to catch up.

Then, the conversation turns to technology and privacy, where Sarah breaks down Maryland’s existing approach to automatic license plate readers as AI-powered surveillance tools draw growing scrutiny. Are Maryland’s existing safeguards enough, or will rapidly evolving technology force policymakers to revisit the rules? Finally, in true News or Noise fashion, the episode closes outside the policy arena with college football, NIL, revenue sharing, and a bigger question: are college sports still amateur sports at all?

From education funding and government surveillance to the changing economics of college athletics, the team sorts through what’s news, what’s noise, and what Maryland’s counties should keep watching.

The Briefing Room: Preservation as a Housing Strategy Aug 25, 2026

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Building new housing is only part of the affordability challenge. Counties also need tools to preserve the affordable homes already in their communities.

In Episode 7 of The Briefing Room's housing finance series, Dom Butchko and Terry Hickey are joined by Jonathan R. Butler, Director of the Prince George’s County Department of Housing & Community Development, to explore preservation as a housing strategy.

The conversation looks at where affordable properties are most at risk, how Right of First Refusal (ROFR) can help counties preserve existing units, and how Prince George’s County puts that tool into practice. The episode also explores the partnerships and financing needed to make preservation deals work and what other counties can learn from the Prince George’s approach.

As Maryland works to expand its housing supply, preservation remains an important part of keeping existing homes affordable and preventing communities from losing ground.

Summer MACoCon Is Over but the Conversations Continue Aug 21, 2026

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The 2026 Summer MACoCon might be over, but many of the conversations that filled the convention center's halls are ongoing.

In this episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Shantelle Malcolm-Lym is joined by Karrington Anderson and Dominic Butchko to look back at what stood out at MACoCon and, more importantly, what comes next. From packed sessions and hallway conversations to the real issues that kept county officials coming back, the trio reflects on what this year’s conference revealed about the priorities shaping local government in Maryland

Their conversation touches on how counties have evolved from asking whether to use AI to figuring out how to use it responsibly, why energy, data centers, and housing continue to dominate policy discussions, and the implementation questions surrounding Maryland’s paid family and medical leave program and the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund.

They also take a quick look at the conversations likely to follow counties into the fall and ultimately the 2027 legislative session, before wrapping up with a few favorite MACoCon moments and more mentions of the Briefing Room than Karrington and Shantelle bargained for.

Special Bonus Episode: Frederick County's Data Center Playbook Aug 07, 2026

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Following the response to The Briefing Room's energy series, we're revisiting one of the topics that generated the most listener interest: data centers.

In this special bonus episode, Dom Butchko is joined by Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater to discuss why Frederick County has become one of Maryland's leaders in developing local data center policy. The conversation explores how the county approached zoning, public engagement, and long-term planning, while examining the lessons learned from neighboring jurisdictions and the importance of balancing economic opportunity with community priorities.

Jessica also shares how Frederick County has strengthened its regulations over time, coordinated with state partners, and worked to ensure residents remain informed throughout the process. For county officials navigating similar conversations, the episode offers practical insights into developing thoughtful local policy in a rapidly evolving industry.

The Briefing Room: The Office-To-Housing Challenge Aug 05, 2026

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Converting empty offices into housing sounds like a straightforward way to address two challenges at once, but the financial and physical realities are often far more complicated. In Episode 6 of The Briefing Room’s housing finance series, Dom Butchko and Terry Hickey are joined by Tim Karp of JPMorgan Chase to explore the office-to-housing challenge and what separates a viable conversion from a project that is unlikely to move forward.

The conversation examines which buildings are best suited for residential reuse, the design and construction obstacles that can drive up costs, and why conversions may be more expensive than new development. The episode also explores financing gaps, tax credits, public incentives, permitting, and other policies that can help projects pencil out. For policymakers considering how to reactivate underused commercial properties, the discussion offers a practical look at where conversions may work, where they may not, and how broader redevelopment strategies can help create housing and strengthen commercial corridors.

News or Noise: Redistricting, Revenue, and NBA Hot Takes Jul 31, 2026

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Every month, the Conduit Street Podcast separates the headlines that matter from the stories generating more attention than action. Let's take a look at where things stand as July comes to an end.

In this edition of News or Noise, Kevin Kinnally, Michael Sanderson, and Karrington Anderson discuss Maryland's upcoming special session on congressional redistricting, why limiting bill drafting isn't as unusual as it may seem, and how legislative practices have evolved over time. They also examine ongoing concerns about local health department funding, the need for a transparent funding formula, and the importance of counties having predictable budget numbers before the fiscal year begins.

Finally, our hosts look ahead to Maryland's new task force on county and municipal revenue structures and what it could mean for local governments heading into the 2027 legislative session. And, of course, the segment wouldn't be complete without sports banter. Tune in for the spirited debate over LeBron James, the Philadelphia 76ers, and NBA championship predictions.

Notes:
Does Maryland’s Public Health Funding Still Fit?
Special Session Preview: Bill Language, Testimony Details, and What’s Ahead

The Briefing Room: Smith Island Cake Effect Jul 28, 2026

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Housing costs rarely rise because of one single policy, fee, or requirement. More often, they build layer by layer until the numbers no longer work. Capturing a Maryland icon, a housing advocate started to tag the layer-upon-layer of process as the "Smith Island Cake Effect."
In Episode 5 of The Briefing Room’s housing finance series, Dom Butchko and Terry Hickey are joined by Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman to explore the “Smith Island Cake Effect” and the many interconnected pressures shaping the cost of housing production. They talk through the layers and discuss where there are deeply considered policies, and where there are streamlining opportunities, to help advance Maryland toward more housing supply at every level.

Notes:2025 Housing & the Economy Report

Healthy Communities With the American Heart Association Jul 24, 2026

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Public Health is about more than hospitals and healthcare; it's also about the policies that help people live healthier lives every day.

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson and Karrington Anderson are joined by Laura Hale, State Government Relations Director for the American Heart Association, to discuss how counties can help improve community health through smart public policy.

Laura shares practical examples of how counties are working with the AHA to make a difference, from expanding access to nutritious school meals and reducing youth exposure to tobacco to helping families make more informed dining choices through informed dining initiatives. She also explains how local governments can use partnerships, policy, and local authority to create healthier communities across Maryland. Plus, you'll hear one surprising statistic that may change the way you think about sugary drinks: the average child consumes the equivalent of a bathtub full each year.

Tune in to hear this timely conversation on how thoughtful local policy can improve public health, one school meal, one community partnership, and one informed decision at a time.

Learn More: Why Give | American Heart Association

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