Revenews

Revenews is produced by the Office of Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot to bring you the latest tax and financial news, as well as a closer look at the people, places and organizations that make Maryland special.

The RELIEF Act 02/25/2021

The RELIEF Act In four days, the Comptroller’s Office processed roughly 415,000 electronic payments and paper checks to Marylanders who qualified for state stimulus relief, representing 98% of all recipients. How did it happen and what are some of the most frequently asked questions. We go behind the scenes with Ombudsman Dana Buker, who deals directly with taxpayers trying to navigate the sometimes-thorny bureaucratic channels in search of help. /episode/index/show/comptrollermd/id/18091529

Fall in Love with an Energy Star Appliance 02/08/2021

Fall in Love with an Energy Star Appliance Tax season and Shop Maryland Energy Weekend are almost here! We chat with Robin McKinney of the CASH Campaign about free tax preparation and the Earned Income Tax Credit. Next up, business owners Joe Ochs & Curt Spicher on the huge the tax-free weekend is. Then, Amey Bayes of BGE and Larissa Johnson from the Montgomery County Dept. of Environmental Protection encourage you to save money AND the planet with energy efficient appliances. /episode/index/show/comptrollermd/id/17865014

Legislative Look-Ahead 01/12/2021

Legislative Look-Ahead With the 2021 General Assembly starting this week, Sam and Alan get a preview from Sen. Craig Zucker, a longtime Comptroller employee, and Justin Hayes, the Comptroller's legislative director. We also get a lay of the land in the COVID-19 era from Sen. Clarence Lam, the chamber's only practicing physician and Nicole Stallings from the MD Hospital Association. /episode/index/show/comptrollermd/id/17518787

Leading Women of Maryland's Economy 12/18/2020

Leading Women of Maryland's Economy It’s the holiday season, and Alan and Sam are wrapping up the year by interviewing Deputy Comptroller Sharonne Bonardi (09:04) about her influential role in managing the day-to-day of the agency and adapting to such a tough year. We then chat with Ali von Paris (33:33), CEO and founder of Route One Apparel, about starting the company out of her dorm room at UMD ten years ago and the importance of shopping local. /episode/index/show/comptrollermd/id/17252192

Thanksgiving & Non-Profits During a Pandemic 11/25/2020

Thanksgiving & Non-Profits During a Pandemic In a special Thanksgiving edition, we learn about the Maryland Charity Campaign from agency chairperson Patti Tracey, and talk to a pair of nonprofit leaders – Carmen del Guercio of the Maryland Food Bank and Jeff Griffin of the Franciscan Center – to hear how operations have changed during the pandemic, and their needs heading into the holiday season. We close with a montage of Comptroller employees saying what they’re thankful for this year. /episode/index/show/comptrollermd/id/16953377

Shop Maryland for the Holidays 11/06/2020

Shop Maryland for the Holidays Special co-host Maureen O’Prey pinch hits today as we talk with the Maryland DC Credit Union Association about their members’ partnership on the Comptroller’s Shop Maryland for the Holidays initiative. Then, we check in with Scott Sanders, founding partner of Tobacco Barn Distillery in St. Mary’s County, to hear about their latest unique venture involving bourbon and a military fighter jet. /episode/index/show/comptrollermd/id/16711019

Hispanic Heritage Month 10/20/2020

Hispanic Heritage Month In honor of the just-concluded Hispanic Heritage Month, Alan and Sam chat with the Comptroller’s Hispanic Affairs Outreach Manager Adriana Lee about how our office is engaging with Hispanic communities across the state to foster better awareness of tax issues (9:23). Next up, Jimmy Vargas, a Silver Spring accountant, provides some helpful tips and advice on how to get your taxes done right (29:30). /episode/index/show/comptrollermd/id/16482554

Checking The Numbers 10/02/2020

Checking The Numbers We look at the state’s latest revenue estimates and what they mean. Then, we talk with Sandy Zinck, director of the General Accounting Division, which drafts the annual reports that drive Maryland’s financial standing. Then, Paul Schurick from the Oyster Recovery Partnership discusses restoring Maryland’s oyster population, their importance to the health of the Chesapeake Bay and the Shell Recycling Alliance. /episode/index/show/comptrollermd/id/16252580

The Importance of the Census 09/11/2020

The Importance of the Census The Census is more than a once-every-10-years population count. We talk with State Planning Secretary Robert McCord to learn how it determines the amount of federal funding Maryland gets and how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted collection efforts (6:50). Then, we hear from Laura Gaver House, whose family farm in Mt. Airy is a popular fall destination for apples, pumpkins and fun for all ages (29:20). /episode/index/show/comptrollermd/id/15974441

The Digital Divide in Urban and Rural MD 08/27/2020

The Digital Divide in Urban and Rural MD Most Maryland students will start school this year virtually. We discuss the digital divide in urban and rural communities with Rick Gordon, director of the Governor's Office of Rural Broadband, and Andrew Coy, a co-organizer of the Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition (6:40). Then we talk to Charelle James, executive director of Urban Teachers, a Baltimore-based nonprofit that trains career educators through an immersive 4-year program (39:45). /episode/index/show/comptrollermd/id/15777959

Shop Local, Save Money 08/06/2020

Shop Local, Save Money Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week is Sunday, August 9 throughSaturday, August 15. We talk with Maryland Retailers Association President Cailey Locklair (4:03) about how important the week is for businesses during Covid-19, and how Maryland college students can win scholarships. Then, we hear from Josh Levinson (18:52), co-owner of Charm City Run, about the origin and growth of the business, the challenges during the pandemic and more. /episode/index/show/comptrollermd/id/15515201

Baseball is Back! 07/23/2020

Baseball is Back! Opening Day is here. We step away from our usual tax talk to focus on America’s pastime. Batting leadoff is Len Foxwell, Comptroller Franchot’s chief of staff and a Washington Nationals megafan. On deck is Jennifer Grondahl, a top Baltimore Orioles executive. In the 3-hole is Ben McDonald, the No. 1 selection in the 1989 MLB Draft and a current O’s broadcaster. And hitting cleanup is Jon Meoli, the Orioles beat writer for the Baltimore Sun. /episode/index/show/comptrollermd/id/15330332

Maryland Tax Deadlines 07/08/2020

Maryland Tax Deadlines With the extended tax deadline of July 15 fast approaching, we talk with Gary White, Director of the Taxpayer Services Division, and Wayne Green, Director of the Revenue Administration Division to answer all your tax questions. We’re then joined by co-owner of Dan’s Taphouse in Boonsboro, Maryland, Charlotte Aufdem-Brinke, to share the restaurant's story during COVID-19, and her decision to vocally support the Black Lives Matter movement. /episode/index/show/comptrollermd/id/15133547

COMPASS - The New Tax Management System 06/22/2020

COMPASS - The New Tax Management System The Comptroller’s Office is about to launch a new, state-of-the-art tax management system called Compass. What is it and how will it help make filing and managing your taxes easier? We talk with Robin Aro, Compass Program Manager, and Porter Ledford, program manager for the contractor implementing the Compass system, to get an overview. We also talk to Sam Hanson, manager of the Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar. /episode/index/show/comptrollermd/id/14917973

Unclaimed Property 06/08/2020

Unclaimed Property Is the state holding money that might be owed to you? We talk with Jason Sobel, director of the Unclaimed Property Section, to get the lowdown on this program that returns millions of dollars to Marylanders yearly. Later, we talk with Erin Cermak, CEO of Revolution Event Design & Production, which is unveiling a line of social distancing products. Lastly, we share Comptroller Franchot’s remarks on the awful killing of George Floyd. /episode/index/show/comptrollermd/id/14746238

BRE Breakdown and Donating DJ 05/26/2020

BRE Breakdown and Donating DJ As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact Maryland, we go deep on the economic impact with Bureau of Revenue Estimates Director Andy Schaufele. We also talked with an Ellicott City DJ who turned an effort to entertain his young kids into a repeat dance party that has raised more than $1 million in donations to charities and first responders. To close the show, Alan and Sam kick off our new recurring feature, “The Best Thing I Saw This Week.” /episode/index/show/comptrollermd/id/14575883

Welcome to Revenews 05/13/2020

Welcome to Revenews Revenews is here to provide Marylanders with the latest tax and financial news from the Comptroller's office, and take a closer look at the people, places and organizations that make Maryland so special. /episode/index/show/comptrollermd/id/14402816

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