Transportation, education costs top of mind at MD state and local government conference

Looming shortfalls to pay for transportation projects and education reforms will again be top of mind for state and local officials as they — along with much of the state’s government and politics ecosystem — descend on Ocean City for the annual Maryland Association of Counties summer conference. “A lot of people are scratching their heads wondering, ‘Is the state budget really in crisis or is this something we can wade through?’ ” Michael Sanderson, MACo’s executive director, said in a phone interview Tuesday.