County Countdown – April, 22, 2024
Upcoming Events
Related News
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.
ARPA Guidance Update: A Win For Counties
Last month's U.S. Treasury update offers substantial flexibility for counties using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), incorporating key suggestions from NACo.
- County personnel: Extended personnel costs now cover a larger list of eligible positions through the end of 2026.
- Subrecipient flexibility: Subrecipient entities are not required to comply with the Dec. 31, 2024 obligation deadline, easing pressure on county timelines.
- Reclassification of funds: After Dec. 31, if a county has funds that have been obligated but not expended, the county may reclassify those funds for other eligible uses.
- Reporting reminder: All SLFRF recipients must submit Project and Expenditure reports by April 30. For details, visit NACo’s ARPA Hub.
Counties Directly Eligible for Competitive Transportation Grants
On March 25, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the availability of $5.2 billion in competitive funding as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Counties are directly eligible.
- Streamlined applications: A simplified process will assist counties in applying by the May 6 deadline.
- Broad funding scope: The USDOT Notice of Funding Opportunity packages the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program, Mega grants and INFRA grants, allowing counties to apply using a single application. Learn more here.
Federal Uniform Guidance Revisions
Recent updates from the White Office Office of Management and Budget simplify federal grant processes, significantly impacting how counties manage federal funds.
- Reduced burdens: Key changes include simplified grant applications and higher thresholds for single audits.
- Implementation by FY 2025: Counties should be prepared for these changes to take effect October 1, 2024.
EPA Sets New Standards For PFAS In Drinking Water
The EPA's new regulations set stringent limits on PFAS levels, impacting counties that manage water utilities.
- Tough standards: Limits for PFOA and PFOS are set at four parts per trillion, with significant cost implications for counties.
- Stay tuned: NACo will provide updates and guidance to help counties comply with these new standards.
Insights From NACo's U.S.-Mexico Border Visit
County leaders' recent visit to the U.S.-Mexico border shed light on urgent needs and challenges at the border, emphasizing the importance of intergovernmental collaboration.
- Valuable perspectives: The trip highlighted the critical role of counties in managing border security and migrant welfare.
- NACo advocacy: Counties continue to advocate for sensible immigration reforms that support county efforts.
Treasury Department releases new obligation guidance for the ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund
On March 29, the U.S. Department of Treasury released new FAQs related to their Obligation Interim Final Rule for the ARPA Recovery Fund.
Counties directly eligible for $5.2 billion in competitive transportation grants
Counties are directly eligible for $5.2 billion in competitive transportation grants.
White House OMB releases final revisions federal Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200)
The White House OMB released final revisions to the federal Uniform Guidance that outline compliance and reporting requirements for federal financial assistance.
Urge Congress and EPA to Consult with Counties on any Future Regulations on PFAS
Urge the U.S. Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies to study the health and environmental impacts of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) compounds and to work closely with state and local governments on any regulatory or legislative actions related to PFAS.
County leaders seek greater coordination on migrants after border visit
A trip to the southern border in El Paso County, Texas offered county officials a chance to see how the asylum system works, amid a sustained increase in people surrendering to immigration authorities.
County Countdown – October 20, 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
Counties Encourage Federal Government Partners to End Shutdown
NACo today issued a statement encouraging a speedy, bipartisan end to the federal government shutdown.
County library cooks up interest with chef series
Orange County, Calif.'s library system drew in new patrons by introducing its offerings through a cooking video series.
U.S. Department of Transportation warns that funding for Essential Air Service (EAS) program may soon lapse amid ongoing federal government shutdown
On October 7, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced that, due to the ongoing government shutdown, funding for the Essential Air Service (EAS) program would lapse on October 12.
U.S. House of Representatives introduce bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and improve road safety program
On September 18, U.S. Reps. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.-09), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.-01) and Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42) introduced the Safe Streets for All Reauthorization and Improvement Act (H.R. 5452).
NACo WIR submits recommendations for public lands transportation needs
On September 8, NACo’s Western Interstate Region (WIR) submitted comments and recommendations for the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)’s Request for Information to as the agency develops its priorities for the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization bill.
Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress, October 30
Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week eleven 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.
Document Management Solutions for Public Agencies Through NACo Public Promise Procurement
Friday, October 31, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET
Explore the newest solutions for managing government documents and content with NACo, Maricopa County and Iron Mountain. Join us for an informative webinar unveiling NACo Public Promise Procurement's newest national contract for Offsite Document Management Services. This session will explore the full scope of services – from secure storage to shredding to digital transformation and cloud-native content platforms. You’ll hear from Lead Public Agency Maricopa County, Ariz. about the procurement process. Learn how your agency can leverage this competitively solicited agreement to enhance compliance, reduce costs and modernize records management.
This webinar is brought to you by NACo EDGE, establishing people, purchasing, and performance cost-saving solutions that can be applied to counties nationwide. EDGE is owned by NACo, advised by county leaders and 100% focused on solutions for U.S. Counties. Learn more about NACo EDGE here.
Unlock the Full Potential of Retirement Plans: Discover the Advantages of Today's Lifetime Income Solutions
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET
A recent survey by the Nationwide Retirement Institute® revealed that roughly ¾ of Americans fear they’ll run out of money before they run out of time. (1)
Join Nationwide and NACo EDGE for a presentation that discusses how lifetime income solutions can build participant confidence. Many misconceptions surround incorporating lifetime income into retirement planning. This presentation offers positive reality checks about solutions that can help participants achieve a more secure retirement.
(1) “Century Club Insights Report,” prepared by Edelman for Nationwide, March 2025. Guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Provisions of these options may vary based on plan selection and/or by state regulation. These investment options may not be available in all states. This material is not a recommendation to buy or sell a financial product or to adopt an investment strategy. Investors should discuss NRM-23166AO.1 (06/25)
Modern Networks, Smarter Budgets: A County Leader’s Perspective
Join us for a fireside chat with Orleans County, NY, as they share how their team successfully transitioned from a traditional capital expense (CapEx) model to an operational expense (OpEx) model for network services.
When faced with rising maintenance costs and an expiring carrier contract, the county seized the opportunity to modernize its network and lock in predictable monthly costs. By bundling connectivity services with unified communications, they achieved immediate savings of over $124,000, eliminated recurring charges such as long-distance fees and third-party integration costs, and gained access to operational upgrades like call analytics and auto-attendants.
This shift not only strengthened financial planning through fixed monthly expenses but also freed up IT staff to focus on strategic initiatives.
Key takeaway: Rethinking your budget model can be just as impactful as upgrading your technology — delivering fiscal stability and enhanced services for your community.
Grant Management Success: Quality, Consistency, and Cost Control
Join a panel of Authorium’s alums of public service – having served in county, state, and federal offices – as they share their experience providing oversight and direction to departments awarding, managing, and leveraging grants.
Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress, November 13
Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week twelve 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.