Each year, the Maryland Municipal League chooses several priority issues that directly affect the future well-being of Maryland’s cities and towns, and those who live in them. The League then has these issues introduced as legislation before the Maryland General Assembly, and works to usher these issues through the legislative process.

2005 Legislative Priorities - Program Elements

1. Restoring Municipal Fiscal Resources

Objective: As the State fiscal condition begins to improve, it is important that municipal resources be restored to levels that existed prior to the significant revenue reductions experienced by municipalities in FY '04 and FY '05. MML will be working to ensure that Highway User Revenues are fully funded and programs important to cities and towns such as Program Open Space, Community Legacy, and Community Parks and Playgrounds are restored to previous funding levels.

2. Public Safety Communications - Connectivity and Interoperability

Objective: Local public safety agencies are under increasing pressure to provide citizens with enhanced levels of security at the State and local levels. Many public safety communication systems utilized by local police, fire, and rescue services are not currently cross-compatible among various agencies and jurisdictions. MML will aggressively support Ehrlich Administration efforts to secure State capital appropriations to upgrade communications equipment in an effort to enhance interoperability among state, county and municipal public safety entities.

3. Municipal Electrical Aggregation

Objective: With the deregulation of the electric industry, residential electric customers need a workable process to achieve lower electric rates. Legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly in 1999 specifically forbids local governments from serving as aggregators for their residents unless the Public Service Commission determines that there is no competition in the residential market. MML will seek legislation to enable local governments to serve as default aggregators for their citizens. Default aggregation means that, after a municipality has passed a local ordinance permitting it to act as a default aggregator, it can use the competitive bidding process to select an energy supplier for all the citizens living in its corporate limits.