County Countdown – April 1, 2024
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Every other week, NACo’s County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.
Watch the video above and explore NACo resources below.
1. 9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
NACo welcomes a significant announcement: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will establish a rule to shift towards georouting calls to the 9-8-8 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
- What is georouting? Today, calls to 9-8-8 are routed based on a phone’s area code. Georouting, which is the method used for calls to 9-1-1, routes the call based on a caller’s physical location at the time of the call, saving precious minutes in connecting callers to local support.
- Next steps: We urge the FCC to move this process forward as swiftly as possible. Check out this overview to see the next steps in the rulemaking process.
2. Government Spending Packages
On March 23, Congress passed the second “minibus” appropriations package, completing funding for Fiscal Year 2024, which runs through September 31.
- Highlights for counties: Counties are pleased to see funding for Election Security Grants, over $10 billion for critical block grants to support human services, full funding for Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT), and other wins for counties.
- The details: NACo just published a comprehensive appropriations hub breaking down the numbers by agency with an eye towards county priorities.
3. Artificial Intelligence Roadmap
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) introduced its inaugural Artificial Intelligence (AI) Roadmap on March 18, outlining planned AI initiatives for 2024.
- Opportunities for counties: The initiatives in the roadmap offer opportunities to leverage AI to bolster disaster preparedness and law enforcement capabilities.
- Building our own roadmap: NACo's Artificial Intelligence Exploratory Committee is expected to share its findings at our Annual Conference in July.
4. SAFER Grant Program
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced the opening of the SAFER grant program, providing $360 million to bolster trained firefighters in counties nationwide.
- Program goals: This program aims to increase or maintain trained firefighters to meet industry standards, attain 24-hour staffing and enhance fire protection capabilities.
- How to apply: Applications are open now through April 12, 2024. Learn more here.
5. ARPA Reporting
On April 30, annual Project and Expenditure (P&E) reports for the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund are due to the U.S. Treasury for all counties that received American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) resources.
- What is P&E reporting: These required, periodic reports provide Treasury with financial and current performance information on projects using recovery funds. For frequently asked questions and resources from Treasury related to this reporting, click here.
- More on ARPA: For resources, stories and more on the American Rescue Plan, visit NACo’s ARPA hub.
Advocacy
FCC takes critical steps to improve the 988 National Suicide Lifeline
Since launching in 2022, there have been over seven million calls to 988, making it an essential tool for counties in supporting the mental health of residents.
Related News
U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill: What it Means for Counties
Counties should continue to advocate for county priorities to be included in the final budget reconciliation bill.
What Counties Need to Know: ARPA reporting requirements for program income
On May 20, the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) distributed a memo to counties that received American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) dollars who had program income or reported $0 obligated on their recent program & expenditure reports.
County Countdown – May 19, 2025
Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership. This week features reconciliation bill advancement, a FEMA reform proposal and more.
Upcoming Events
Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress, May 29
Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week two of a biweekly series on key developments from the White House and Congress. Discussions will focus on policies and actions that directly impact counties — from federal funding and regulatory changes to intergovernmental partnerships. Tune in for an inside look at how these evolving federal dynamics may shape county priorities, responsibilities and operations.
Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress, June 12
Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week three of a biweekly series on key developments from the White House and Congress. Discussions will focus on policies and actions that directly impact counties — from federal funding and regulatory changes to intergovernmental partnerships. Tune in for an inside look at how these evolving federal dynamics may shape county priorities, responsibilities and operations.
LUCA: Improving Census Data. Here’s How, Starting Now
The Census Bureau’s first operation in preparation for the 2030 census is the Local Update of Census Addresses, or LUCA, and it needs your help in updating its address list. Preparation starts now. States, local jurisdictions and tribal nations can identify areas with hidden and low-visibility housing, lots of in-fill and new residential developments; areas recovering from disasters; and areas with nontraditional addresses.
In this webinar cosponsored by the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National League of Cities, the International City/County Management Association and NACo, learn about the steps you and your partners can take now to get this critical census activity right!