County Countdown – December 2, 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.
Secure Rural Schools reauthorization
NACo applauds the U.S. Senate's November 12 passage of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Reauthorization Act. This legislation supports over 700 counties, providing essential funding for infrastructure, education and fire suppression in forest communities.
- Take action: Without reauthorization, many counties will face severe budget shortfalls. NACo urges counties to contact their House members to advocate for swift passage of this vital legislation.
- Learn more: View and download NACo's SRS policy brief here.
Disaster relief funding request
The White House recently submitted $98.6 billion disaster relief funding request to Congress to address recovery efforts from recent disasters like Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Maui County wildfires and Midwest tornadoes.
- What NACo is doing: NACo sent a letter urging Congress to include critical programs in the disaster supplemental funding package. Additionally, NACo launched the Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force to improve disaster mitigation, response and recovery capabilities.
- Upcoming webinar: Join NACo’s national membership call on December 5 at 3:00 p.m. EST to discuss the package and county action items.
ARPA obligation deadline approaching
Counties must obligate American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds by December 31, 2024, ensuring all contractual commitments are in place before the deadline.
- How we got here: Passed in 2021, ARPA provided $65.1 billion in direct, flexible aid to counties, offering a unique opportunity to address pandemic-related needs and support long-term recovery.
- Learn more: NACo recently hosted a webinar offering tips for efficiently obligating remaining funds. View the recording and slide deck here.
Congressional priorities during lame duck session
Congress has several key issues to address before the session ends. NACo is monitoring and advocating for priorities, including:
- Economic Development Administration reauthorization: Helping local communities achieve long-term economic growth.
- Second Chance Act reauthorization: Improving reentry services and reducing recidivism.
- Title IV-B reauthorization: Enhancing child welfare workforce resources.
- Social Security Fairness Act: Repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision to restore full Social Security benefits.
View NACo's full list of priorities for the session here.
Dole Act passes the House
The U.S. House recently passed the bipartisan Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act.
- Strengthen CVSOs: This legislation includes a pared-down version of the NACo-endorsed Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act, authorizing $10 million annually to strengthen County Veteran Service Officers (CVSOs).
- Call to action: Counties should contact their Senators to advocate for passage, ensuring better support for veterans nationwide.
U.S. Senate passes Secure Rural Schools reauthorization
The Senate unanimously passed the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2023 (S.2581), a major milestone for supporting our forested counties.
White House submitted $100 billion disaster relief request; Counties are encouraged to advocate for essential funding
On November 18, the White House submitted a $98.6 billion disaster relief funding request to Congress, outlining resources needed to address recent disasters, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Maui County wildfires and tornadoes in the Midwest.
Countdown to the ARPA SLFRF obligation deadline: What counties need to know before December 31, 2024
With the December 31, 2024 deadline for obligating ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds quickly approaching, counties nationwide are assessing how best to allocate these critical resources.
County priorities in the lame duck session: Key advocacy efforts for local leaders
NACo is actively collaborating with Congress and the administration to advance key county issues.
House advances measure with resources for county veteran service officers
On November 18, the U.S. House of Representatives passed, on a bipartisan 389-9 vote, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act (H.R. 8371), known as the Dole Act.
Related News
FEMA delays $11 billion in state disaster reimbursements
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently withheld roughly $11 billion in planned disaster reimbursements to 45 states, shifting the payments to fiscal year 2026 and marking a major change in how the federal government is managing disaster relief funding.
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.
DOI, DOE and the EPA announce new funding and regulatory measures to support U.S. coal industry
On September 29, the U.S. Departments of the Interior (DOI), Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced coordinated actions to expand domestic coal production and coal-fired energy generation.
Upcoming Events
GoFundMe’s Crisis Response Playbook: Trusted Solutions for Counties
This webinar will showcase how GoFundMe serves as a trusted partner for counties and communities in times of crisis.
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.