Conduit Street Podcast
From the halls of the State House to the heart of county government, the Conduit Street Podcast breaks down the decisions shaping Marylanders’ daily lives. Produced by the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo), this weekly podcast offers smart, accessible insights on the latest state and local policy — with counties always at the center.
Explore how legislation, executive actions, and agency decisions affect essential public services like education, infrastructure, public safety, health, and other core functions that matter most to Maryland residents. With special guests from across the state and the occasional world-famous dad joke, Conduit Street keeps you informed, engaged, and ready for what’s next.
Whether you’re a policymaker, a public servant, or just policy-curious, this is your front-row seat to Maryland’s political landscape.
Conduit Street Podcast
Navigating County Budgets: Trends, Challenges, and Solutions - Part II
On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Ted Zaleski and Robbie Sandlass join Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson to discuss pressing budget and finance issues for the State of Maryland and county governments. Topics include the intricacies of bond ratings and how they affect financial health and borrowing capabilities, increasing pressure to fund public schools, why distinguishing between one-time and ongoing costs is crucial for sustainable budgeting and financial planning, and more.
Ted Zaleski is the director of the Carroll County Office of Budget and Management. He also serves as president of the MACo Budget and Finance Officers Affiliate and is the Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT)
Robbie Sandlass has served as Harford County Treasurer since 2014. In addition to his duties as the County’s chief financial officer, he also chairs the Boards of Trustees for the County’s Sheriff Office Pension Plan (SOPP) for correctional officers, Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) for volunteer firefighters, and Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) for retiree health care. He also represents MACo on the Maryland Retirement and Pension System's Board of Trustees.
The Conduit Street Podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple, Google, and anywhere else you get your podcasts. Episodes are also available on MACo's Conduit Street blog.