County Countdown – Nov. 4, 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.

Election Day 2024

The 2024 election is taking place this week. In addition to highlighting the critical county role in administering the election, NACo is closely monitoring pivotal races and will soon release an in-depth analysis on election outcomes and their impact on county priorities.

  • Advocacy impact: Our analysis will help inform NACo’s approach in the upcoming Congressional lame duck session as well as advocacy strategies for the 119th Congress.
  • Key stats: The county role in election administration is extensive in most states and localities, including funding and managing over 100,000 polling places staffed by over 630,000 poll workers. 

New notice for the Emergency Rental Assistance program

On October 4, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that Emergency Rental Assistance program grantees must repay funds disbursed due to fraud or unallowable expenses, despite Treasury’s prior encouragement to accept a personal certification from renters without additional documentation.

  • About the program: The Emergency Rental Assistance program was authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act, providing direct funding to counties to assist families struggling to make rental and utility payments.
  • County impact: Counties always act as trusted stewards of federal dollars and public money, but this new policy shift could severely impact our ability to provide housing assistance, as we may now need to divert resources from addressing housing affordability to repaying federal money administered in good faith.
  • Taking action: NACo is urging Treasury to reverse this policy and is mobilizing counties to advocate for relief from potential financial penalties.

Direct pay extension for county clean energy projects

On October 11, the IRS announced an automatic six-month extension for counties and other eligible entities to file Form 990-T if they are making an elective payment election, or direct pay, to recover costs for clean energy initiatives in taxable years ending between December 31, 2023, and November 30, 2024.

  • For example: Entities with tax years ending on December 31, 2023, and an original filing deadline of May 15, 2024, will now have until November 15, 2024, to file their elective pay claim.
  • Background: The elective pay option, authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act, allows counties to receive a refund equivalent to clean energy tax credits rather than the credit itself, supporting local investments in clean energy.

This week: Participate in Operation Green Light

Once again this year, NACo and the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO) invite the nation’s 3,069 counties, parishes and boroughs to join Operation Green Light for Veterans from November 4–11, 2024.

  • By shining a green light, county governments and our residents will let veterans know they are seen, appreciated and supported.
  • Getting started: Need ideas for lighting your county up in green? Find suggested materials here.
  • Outreach resources: Our Operation Green Light toolkit includes a resolution template, printable flyer, sample press releases, social media graphics and more.

Register today for the 2025 NACo Legislative Conference

Register now for NACo’s 2025 Legislative Conference. Join nearly 2,000 county leaders March 1-4, 2025 in Washington, D.C. to focus on county federal policy priorities.

  • Highlights: Attendees can participate in timely policy sessions, meet with members of Congress and interact with federal agency officials.
  • Learn more: Visit the conference homepage to learn more and explore the full schedule.

Featured this Week

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Press Release

Counties Extend Support for Election Workers Ahead of Election Day

As administrators of elections, counties manage 100,000 polling places, over 630,000 poll workers.

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Advocacy

U.S. Department of the Treasury Issues Notice Regarding ERA Fraud Repayments

On October 4, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and Treasury’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) sent a joint notice to all grantees and subrecipients of the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program stating that Treasury is requiring grantees to reimburse the agency or their own ERA programs for any ERA funds that were disbursed due to fraud or unallowable expenses – despite the fact that Treasury repeatedly and explicitly encouraged grantees to allow ERA applicants to “self-attest” to their eligibility for assistance without additional documentation.

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Advocacy

IRS Announces Direct Pay Election Extension for Clean Energy Projects

The IRS has granted extensions to file Form 990-T for those making a Direct Pay election.

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Program

Operation Green Light for Veterans

During the week leading up to Veterans Day, counties shine a green light to show support for veterans, raise awareness of benefits available to them and call for action on federal policies that support veterans and their families.

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Conference

2025 NACo Legislative Conference

Washington, D.C.

The NACo Legislative Conference brings together nearly 2,000 elected and appointed county officials to focus on federal policy issues that impact counties and our residents.

Related News

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Press Release

Local Workforce Stakeholders Urge Congress to Revise Workforce Reauthorization Legislation

On behalf of the nation’s counties, cities, towns and villages, NACo, the National League of Cities, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors issued the following statement regarding the bicameral draft agreement to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, titled A Stronger Workforce for America Act: 

Seattle, Washington
Advocacy

NACo Legal Advocacy: City of Seattle et al. v. Kia/Hyundai

The question at hand in City of Seattle et al. v. Kia/Hyundai is whether or not the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard preempts state tort claims brought forth by local governments alleging that Kia and Hyundai’s failure to install “reasonable” anti-theft technology constitutes negligence and public nuisance.

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Advocacy

NACo Legal Advocacy: Perttu v. Richards

Perttu v. Richards has implications on the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) and could increase the amount of Section 1983 inmate-initiated cases against county jails that reach federal court, ultimately resulting in counties having to expend resources on frivolous lawsuits.  

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Advocacy

County Countdown – December 2, 2024

Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.

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Advocacy

NACo Legal Advocacy: McLaughlin Chiropractic Associates, Inc. V. McKesson Corporation

McLaughlin Chiropractic Associates, Inc. V. McKesson Corporation could make it more difficult for counties to challenge FCC orders, many of which have taken steps to preempt and curtail local authority by limiting counties’ abilities to manage their own right of way and assess fair market value permitting and impact fees on providers seeking to construct, modify or extend telecommunications infrastructure in their communities. 

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Advocacy

Countdown to ARPA’s SLFRF obligation deadline: Top 5 insights for local governments

The December 31, 2024, deadline for obligating funds under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program is fast approaching.