TO: Maryland Municipal Leaders
FROM: Scott A. Hancock, Executive Director
SUBJECT: Weekly UPDATE on MML’s Commitment During the COVID-19 Emergency
DATE: May 04, 2020
During these challenging times, MML knows our members are struggling to adopt budgets for the upcoming fiscal year without truly knowing how municipal revenues will be affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. To provide some financial relief, the MML Board of Directors is considering a proposal, proffered by the MML staff that would hold all membership dues at FY 2020 levels. In addition, staff has proposed a discount for timely payment of FY 2021 dues. A listing of the specific dues proposal for each member municipality is now available and should be shared with your city/town budget officers. The Board is scheduled to adopt MML’s FY ‘21 budget in June.
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MML’s decision to pivot to a virtual Summer Conference next month will also yield substantial savings to members during the current fiscal year. The “reimagined “event will be held during the same period as the originally scheduled 2020 Summer Conference but in a shortened time frame (June 29-June 30). The draft program for this exciting event will provide attendees with the opportunity to network with fellow municipal officials and will, for the first time, be offering for-credit Academy for Excellence classes online. We will also be focusing much of the Conference programming on how the pandemic has affected Maryland municipalities, sharing best practices for ways we will get through this health/financial crisis together. Of course, we will have a superb keynote speaker, an address to attendees by Governor Hogan (invited) and the ever-popular Cabinet Secretaries Roundtable. Specific event information and registration options is now available on MML’s Summer Conference webpage. Please make your plans today to register for this historic event. We look forward to seeing you “virtually” next month at MML, 2020!!
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MML continues to work with our partners at the National League of Cities on the next federal stimulus package that we trust will focus on providing much needed financial relief to local governments on the front lines of this national emergency. Please reach out to Senators Cardin and Van Hollen and your Congressman to ask them to support NLC’s proposal. Once bills have been filed, I will email specifics to municipal leaders.
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Lastly, don’t forget to share your city or town experiences with MML regarding discussions with your county officials as you seek qualified reimbursements from the CARES Act appropriation (and inclusion in the county’s plan for additional future funding). We need to know:
- What was the general county response to your reimbursement requests?
- How much did you ask for and how much are you receiving?
- What types of uses did you request reimbursements for?
- Which were approved and which were not?
Please send your county reimbursement request experiences to Justin Fiore at MML. justinf@mdmunicipal.org.
Your Association remains committed to supporting you in any way we can during this health crisis.
Please stay well and THANKS for all you are doing to lead your community through these unprecedented times.
#MunicipalMarylandStrong!
Shareable Link to Memorandum