How do counties and municipalities differ in Maryland?

• A. Counties Cover Broader Areas with County-Wide Responsibilities; Municipalities Are Incorporated Towns or Cities with Local Charters
• B. Counties Include Only Cities; Municipalities Include Rural Areas
• C. Counties Have Local Charters; Municipalities Do Not
• D. Municipalities Are Larger and Manage State Budgets

Answer: (A)

In Maryland, government is organized at two levels: counties and municipalities. Counties cover broad geographic areas and provide county-wide services such as law enforcement, jails, roads, health and social services, and they oversee the public schools through the county boards of education. Municipalities are incorporated towns or cities that have their own local charters, giving them authority to govern within their boundaries—things like local ordinances, zoning, local policing, and city services managed by elected leaders and councils. A notable exception is Baltimore City, which operates as its own separate entity not part of any county.

So the best description is that counties cover larger areas with county-wide responsibilities, while municipalities are incorporated towns or cities with local charters.