County Countdown – March 19, 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. Government Funding Success
Congress passed a fiscal year 2024 minibus appropriations package, including key county priorities.
- PILT program funding: A victory for counties, ensuring $515 million for the PILT Program.
- Mental health and broadband: Gains for mental health and rural broadband with provisions for IMD waiver expansion and the ReConnect Program.
- Upcoming deadlines: The pressure is on with a March 22 deadline to finalize the rest of 2024's federal spending.
2. FCC's Intergovernmental Advisory Update
FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel appoints county-recommended leaders to the Intergovernmental Advisory Committee.
- New appointments: Four county leaders begin a two-year term advising on broadband services and deployment.
- Get all of the details here.
3. BIL Funding Analysis for Counties
NACo recently released a new report examining the investments made at the county level from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also known as BIL.
- Report findings: As of November 2023, more than $127 billion in transportation funding has been awarded, including $50 billion in discretionary awards; however, only a fraction of these funds are direct investments in counties.
- Call for equity: A more equitable distribution of infrastructure funding, such as direct and flexible allocations to all counties, parishes and boroughs, is crucial for ensuring the continued performance of our national transportation network.
4. Child Care Funding Rule
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a final rule affecting the Child Care and Development Fund, raising concerns for county-run programs.
- Funding implications: Counties managing CCDF in eight states could face funding challenges under the new rule.
- Area of concern: NACo remains concerned that absent additional federal funding, implementation of the CCDF final rule will require difficult tradeoffs that could impact access to the program.
5. National County Government Month
April celebrates the essential services and achievements of county governments.
- Civic engagement: Utilize NACo's suite of community engagement tools to help tell the county story.
- Get involved: Share your county's success stories and advocate for local priorities.
Resource
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Examining Investments in County Infrastructure
Related News
Counties Celebrate Key Permitting Inclusions in SPEED Act
NACo issued the following statement in response to the passage of the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act (H.R. 4776), which advanced out of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources on November 20.
House Natural Resources Committee advances Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act
On November 20, the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources advanced the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act (H.R. 4776), which would make important changes to streamline federal permitting and strengthen county involvement in decision-making by amending the National Environmental Policy Act. Counties support commonsense permitting reforms, and NACo secured provisions in the SPEED Act that would guarantee counties a seat at the table during federal environmental reviews.
Upcoming Events
What to Expect from the Current Supreme Court Term: Cases Impacting Local Government
Hosted by the Local Government Legal Center (LGLC), join legal experts in a discussion of the new Supreme Court term and what decisions local governments should watch.
FAA-NACo Airport Land Use Compatibility
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. - 4:300 p.m. ET
Counties play a crucial role in our nation’s aviation system, owning and operating hundreds of airports across the country. And even in places where the county may not own the airport, county planning departments and development organizations work to maximize the value of this asset to the community’s economic and overall wellbeing. Join NACo and staff from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Airports Planning and Programming to learn more about the FAA’s “Advisory Circular on Airport Land Use Compatibility Planning,” which will enable counties work smarter to integrate airports into broader planning efforts for land use, economic development and more. FAA staff will also be available to answer questions from county leaders about planning needs in their community and how the Advisory Circular can guide those efforts.
Speakers:
- Jacqueline Essick, Associate Director, Jacobsen|Daniels
- Amber McNair, Founder & Principal Investigator, AV McNair, LLC
- Michael (Mike) Hines, Manager of Airports Planning and Environmental Division, FAA
- Jean Wolfers-Lawrence, Manager of Environmental Planning Branch, FAA
Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress, December 11
Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week thirteen 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.