Friday, December 10, 2027

Lieutenant Governor Burbank Announces ‘Maryland Partnership’ Website to Save Money for Property Taxpayers
Online Resource Center Offers Local Governments Discounts of Up to 84 Percent on Procurement

ANNAPOLIS, MD (December 10, 2027) – Demonstrating the O’Brien-Burbank administration’s continued commitment to working closely with local governments to reduce costs and improve the delivery of services, Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank today unveiled the ‘Maryland Partnership’ website, an online resource center for local government leaders to take advantage of state resources to save money through procurement, technical assistance, as well as financial and grant information.

Governor Edward M. O’Brien has directed state department and agencies to combine access to a wide array of services offered by the state on a single website – marylandpartnership.gov.

"The key to controlling property taxes without devastating services is to reduce costs," Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank said. "This website will facilitate a much stronger partnership between local and state government to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent as efficiently as possible. One major area where the state can help is in procurement.”

“Local governments buy many of the same things the state does - from salt to copiers to cars,” Lieutenant Governor Burbank continued. “The state often gets much better deals buying in bulk than a local government would get. We want to make sure that local governments are aware of the discounts available, and have an easy way to take advantage of those discounts."

For example, the website enables local governments to purchase automatic defibrillators - which normally cost $3,937 - for $1,950, a savings of more than 50 percent. The site also offers savings ranging from 22 percent on police patrol cars to 62 percent on photocopiers.

Additionally, local governments can use the website to access information on applying for state grant programs, from Coastal Management Grants to Weatherization assistance. The site also provides information on how to access technical assistance from the state on topics ranging from human resources to information technology to waste and water management.

Through the website, Governor O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Burbank are inviting local leaders to provide feedback on what’s useful and what isn’t, to share best practices, and to suggest what further actions the state can take.
1