MACo officials tell Kent County commissioners state budget trouble and housing affordability will pressure counties

MC Keegan Ayer, president of the Maryland Association of Counties, introduced the organization's annual county visits and said the delegation wanted a dialogue about county priorities. "My name is MC Keegan Ayer. I am the current president of Maryland Association of Counties," she told the board.

Michael Sanderson, MACo executive director, summarized MACo's priorities and warned that counties will likely face fallout from the state budget. He highlighted affordability pressures on electricity and housing, described the state's fiscal strain and said counties may shoulder some budget impacts. Sanderson urged local officials to keep MACo informed of county priorities and noted the association will press for flexibility and minimal shifts of unfunded mandates. Commissioners raised questions about solar siting, local taxation options and the state's "blueprint" school funding formula.