County Countdown – April 21, 2025
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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.
ARPA reporting deadline next week
Next Wednesday, April 30, is the deadline for counties to submit Project and Expenditure Reports for the American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.
- Required for all counties: To remain in compliance with the reporting requirements, all counties must submit a report, including counties that have already spent their entire ARPA allocation.
- Detail is key: When submitting the Project and Expenditure Report, provide as much detail as possible to ensure Treasury officials have a clear picture of how funds were obligated to support communities and residents.
- NACo is here to help: If you have received a notice of noncompliance, please reach out to NACo for support.
Congress moves forward on reconciliation
Both the House and Senate have adopted budget proposals. Counties are closely monitoring the potential impacts of the reconciliation process on local priorities, including the preservation of tax-exempt municipal bonds.
- Support for county priorities: Last week, 12 members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to House leadership expressing concerns over major cuts to Medicaid, and a bipartisan Dear Colleague letter also in the House shared support for preserving the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds.
- Timeline: Congress is looking to move quickly on this reconciliation process, with the goal of delivering a reconciliation bill to President Trump by the end of May.
FEMA announces cancellation of disaster mitigation funding
On April 4, FEMA announced it will not allocate $750 million this year for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. The cancellation follows a broader review of FEMA grants and a recent executive order by President Trump emphasizing state and local responsibility for disaster preparedness.
- What is BRIC: Counties are directly eligible for BRIC, which funds hazard mitigation projects aimed at reducing long-term disaster risks and costs.
- County impact: The cancellation of BRIC funding could lead to disruptions to or cancellation of county projects, additional costs for counties and reduced capacity for long-term risk reduction.
- NACo action: While FEMA continues to evaluate its overall grant portfolio and priorities, NACo and our Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force remain committed to modernizing federal disaster policies; strengthening intergovernmental partnerships; and enhancing local disaster mitigation, response and recovery capacities.
HHS terminates funding for mental and behavioral health programs
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has terminated funding for at least five county-eligible federal health programs previously set to run through September 2025.
- Impacted programs: The Community Mental Health Services Block Grant Supplement and the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Supplemental Grants – both of which counties rely on to provide critical prevention and treatment services for substance use disorders – are examples of impacted programs.
- Impact on local public health: The abrupt loss of funding affects the stability of local public and behavioral health systems, including 988 crisis call centers, prevention initiatives and community health worker programs.
Congress considers reauthorization of county cybersecurity program
Authorized under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the State and Local Cybersecurity Program (SLCGP) provides critical funding to state and local governments to enhance cybersecurity readiness and protection. The $1 billion program is set to expire on September 30, 2025 unless it is reauthorized by Congress.
- Benefits to counties: The SLCGP requires state recipients to pass through 80% of funding to local governments, strengthening counties’ cybersecurity readiness and ability to respond to and protect against cybersecurity threats.
- Take action: County leaders should reach out to their members of Congress to urge them to reauthorize the program and ensure continuity of funding for critical cybersecurity efforts.
What Counties Need to Know: ARPA SLFRF Reporting Deadline
As counties continue to implement projects under the American Rescue Plan Act’s (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program, accurate and timely reporting remains critical. To support counties in preparing their 2025 Annual or Q1 Project and Expenditure (P&E) Reports – due April 30, 2025 – NACo has developed the below frequently asked questions (FAQs) guide.
U.S. Congress begins work on budget reconciliation process: What this means for counties
The House and Senate Budget Committees have marked up Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget resolutions to initiate the budget reconciliation process to enact policy priorities without garnering bipartisan support, although the two chambers differ in their approach to drafting the legislation.
FEMA halts disaster mitigation grant program
On April 4, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced it will not allocate $750 million this year for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. According to the press release, FEMA will also stop funding BRIC projects that were previously approved and are still underway.
HHS issues termination notices for health grant funding
On March 25, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sent letters to state authorities and counties with direct grant funding announcing the immediate termination of several pandemic-related grants, which was previously set to run through September 2025.
U.S House Subcommittee Considers Reauthorization of the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program
The SLCGP provides critical funding to state and local governments to enhance cybersecurity readiness and protection but is set to expire on September 30, 2025.
Congress introduces Second Chance Act reauthorization
On May 22, the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 3552/S.1843) was introduced in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives with robust bipartisan support. NACo supports this legislation, which would reauthorize funding for Second Chance Act (P.L. 110-199) programs through 2030.
Deadly tornadoes pummel counties across the South
Southern Kentucky counties bore the brunt of a May 16 tornado outbreak, with at least 17 fatalities confirmed as of last week in Laurel County alone.
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.
Measles on the rise: What county officials need to know
Vaccination is the most effective defense against measles, and county leaders can use their voices to encourage uptake of the MMR vaccine.
Fire and emergency response grants now open for counties
On May 20, FEMA announced the opening of the Fiscal Year 2024 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program and the Fiscal Year 2024 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program, which support fire departments and firefighter organizations in increasing staffing and improving safety nationwide.
Efficiency in Action: Saving Millions, Serving Better — Summit County’s Success Story
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how technology can drive significant improvements in government efficiency and constituent outcomes. Register for the webinar today and join the conversation on transforming community services.
Building Trust: The Framework for Responsible AI
As AI becomes an integral part of business operations, the imperative for responsible integration with existing county technology grows. This webinar will explore the critical considerations and frameworks necessary for implementing AI ethically and effectively. By exploring the core themes of transparency, accountability, reliability, safety, privacy, security, fairness, and human oversight, we aim to provide a comprehensive guide for harnessing AI's potential responsibly.
Our county guest speakers will share their experiences with AI deployments, providing valuable insights into overcoming challenges like reducing fears, addressing bias, and enhancing constituent trust. They'll share practical strategies for ensuring AI initiatives are both effective and efficient, delivering tangible benefits to communities.
Faster, Smarter Disaster Relief: How LA County Used AI & Geospatial Mapping to Deliver $20M in Aid
Key Takeaways:
- Strategies for incorporating geospatial technology in disaster planning and response.
- Techniques for using identity verification tools to balance security and accessibility.
- Best practices for building public-private partnerships in times of crisis.
Proactively Defend Your Collection Rate: How Automation Makes It Possible
Join Leah Bezanson, Patient Revenue Supervisor at Minnesota Department of Human Services and Erica Gregory, SVP & GM, Revenue Cycle Management at Netsmart, for insights on how automation can help protect collection rates, enhance accuracy and improve data visibility.
NACo AI Central Regional Forum
The NACo AI Regional Forum series is convening local government elected officials, appointed officers, department heads, and staff across different geographical regions to provide an educational, hands-on symposium on the landscape of artificial intelligence.
NACo AI West Regional Forum
The NACo AI Regional Forum series is convening local government elected officials, appointed officers, department heads, and staff across different geographical regions to provide an educational, hands-on symposium on the landscape of artificial intelligence.