Wilson Parran, president of the Calvert County Board of Commissioners, is the new president of the Maryland Association of Counties. An information technology consultant, he has served on the county’s school board, been president of the Maryland Association of Boards of Education and been a trustee on the board of the College of Southern Maryland.
What are the major concerns from fellow county officials about the economic environment?
Our concern, as they balance the state budget, is what impact that will have on dollars currently coming to the locals and also services coming to the locals.
We are also experiencing the same thing [as the state government] in terms of less revenues from taxes and strains on our services. As we look at next year, can we sustain the services we have and the revenues we get?
What’s the good news?
The good news is that we will continue to work together to make sure that we continue to address the needs of all citizens of the state of Maryland. And continue that partnership in looking at how we’re going to absorb cuts.
Hopefully the cuts will be temporary and also to the extent possible, level funding [from the state], as we heard. Those are key.
What about bad news?
We don’t know when this is going to end in terms of where the economy is heading.
What are the most important things for the counties in the upcoming session?
School construction and the continued need to sustain that infrastructure. Some of the counties are still growing.
We’re hoping to get a speed camera bill passed this time. We came very close last time. And the scrap metal bill we thought was going to pass [to prevent theft of wiring and aluminum.]
What do you plan to do during your year as MACO president?
My objective is to visit all 23 subdivisions to get a better appreciation of what they’re dealing with so I can better represent them throughout this year.
– Len Lazarick
