Advisory Councils

The Comptroller of Maryland has convened several Advisory Councils to provide opportunities for key stakeholder groups, policy experts, and community partners to advise the agency on our strategic goals, policy direction, and new initiatives while also helping to shape our internal and external engagement strategy. Each Advisory Council meets quarterly, with two-year terms. Members are invited to:

• Share feedback on pressing issues impacting their communities;
• Advise the agency on its policy agenda and priorities;
• Outreach to their networks to identify volunteers to support the Comptroller of Maryland’s initiatives and community engagement efforts;
• Identify opportunities for collaboration between the Comptroller of Maryland and their communities/networks; and
• Serve as internal and external validators for the agency.

Below is a brief summary of each advisory council’s role:

1. Business Advisory Council includes industry representatives and prominent members of Maryland’s business community, including small-, minority-, and women business owners, who help to advise the agency on priority and emerging issues and challenges facing the business community, as well as provide perspective on the state of Maryland’s economy.
2. Climate Advisory Council is charged with helping the Office of the Comptroller to position Maryland as a national leader on climate resilience and sustainability. The council will support the agency’s work by providing advice about strategies for Maryland to increase consideration of climate change and sustainability in state procurement, to assess and reflect the true cost of climate change to Maryland, and to best align the state’s economic and fiscal policies with climate change considerations. The council will include subject matter experts, professionals, and advocates in the climate, sustainability, environmental justice, and resilience fields.
3. Faith Leaders Advisory Council is charged with helping the Office of the Comptroller to develop partnerships with Maryland’s faith community to ensure that organizations of all denominations have access to agency resources.  The Council also provides guidance on topics of interest to the faith community and identify opportunities for the Comptroller’s Office to directly engage with the faith community in Maryland and to provide feedback and support for the Comptroller’s legislative agenda.
4. Financial Literacy Advisory Council is charged with helping to support the development of a robust financial literacy agenda that positions the Comptroller of Maryland as a go-to, statewide resource. This includes collaboratively engaging with subject matter experts in the financial education space to identify strategies and opportunities to educate disparate communities around financial literacy; developing new, informative resources and tools that support financial literacy education and wellness to meet pressing community needs; promoting the agency’s efforts throughout the state; and making the Office of the Comptroller a trusted hub and repository of financial literacy information and data.  
5. Labor Advisory Council serves as a key forum for labor leaders across the state to engage directly with the Comptroller's Office, providing critical feedback on programmatic and operational efficiencies while helping to ensure that state fiscal policies and services best serve the working people of Maryland.
   
   Comprised of representatives from a diverse range of labor unions and worker advocacy organizations, the council facilitates a collaborative dialogue on issues affecting Maryland's workforce, including tax administration, economic development, procurement practices, and financial literacy initiatives. Through regular meetings, members offer insights and recommendations on how the Comptroller's Office can streamline operations, improve customer service, and enhance the overall efficiency of state programs that impact workers and their families.
6. Local Government Advisory Council includes representatives from Maryland’s county and municipal governments and provide a venue for information-sharing between the Comptroller of Maryland and local government leaders. The Comptroller regularly provides updates and solicits feedback on new initiatives and policy proposals, and Council members are charged with sharing information about relevant updates in their counties/jurisdictions while also elevating areas of concern and opportunities for partnership.
7. New Americans Advisory Council includes members of Maryland’s new American community, including refugees, immigrants, and community advocates.  The Council works closely with the Office of the Comptroller to improve the quality of services delivered by the agency and address gaps in services provide to new Americans in the state.  They also advise the agency on emerging topics/issues within the new American community and identify partnership opportunities throughout the state.
8. Staff Advisory Council will work closely with various agency partners to develop and implement new staff-focused initiatives and engagement opportunities and advise the Comptroller of Maryland on potential proposals and areas of concern affecting staff. This Council is comprised solely of agency staff and include labor representatives, as well as  staff throughout each division of the agency - from contractual employees and entry-level staff to management and leadership.  Council members will also help with volunteering at division and agency-wide events, promoting agency efforts in their units and divisions, and regularly sharing information with their colleagues.
9. Tax Practitioners Advisory Council is comprised of members of Maryland’s tax industry, including tax preparers, attorneys, taxpayer advocates, and policy leaders.  This Council advises the Comptroller of Maryland on challenges facing the industry and provides feedback on proposals and new initiatives to improve the quality of services provided to Maryland taxpayers and ensure industry accountability.  
10. Women’s Economic Empowerment Council is charged with advising the Comptroller of Maryland on financial challenges facing women in Maryland and potential opportunities to strengthen and promote women's financial resilience – through financial education, addressing financial abuse (in domestic violence for instance), in starting and growing businesses, and improving access to state resources, contracts, and grants. Council members provide feedback on proposals and new initiatives, brainstorm ways to educate women about finances, and develop new partnerships to help build prosperity among women in Maryland.