The County Countdown – September 26, 2023

Key Takeaways

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 and explore NACo resources below on some of the top issues we're covering this week. 

Public Lands & PILT 

With 62 percent of counties home to federal land, a majority of America’s counties grapple with the challenge of providing vital services without property tax revenues. 

• The Payments In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program helps bridge this financial gap for public land counties. 
• Advocacy in action: NACo recently hosted over three dozen county officials in Washington, driving forward advocacy efforts for the indispensable PILT program. 

Federal Budget 

The clock is ticking for Congress as the fiscal year 2024 budget deliberations continue. A standstill can trigger a federal shutdown, jeopardizing continuous service delivery to our residents. 

• Unified front: Counties are vocalizing our concerns, urging Congress for a bipartisan consensus to ensure continuity. 
• NACo’s recent communication to Congressional leaders outlines our key priorities, emphasizing the pressing need for substantial investments in areas like disaster recovery, mental and behavioral health, broadband, elections, infrastructure and housing. 

SNAP: Supporting Vulnerable Residents 

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) operates as a pivotal support mechanism for many county residents. Its administration and funding model vary across states, with some counties shouldering significant portions of the costs. 

• State-by-State Variance: Notably, 10 states delegate the responsibility of administering SNAP to counties. In these locales, counties also foot the bill for some of the program's overhead and supplementary expenses.  
• SNAP Toolkit: NACo’s toolkit provides a comprehensive breakdown of counties' roles within SNAP and spotlights federal policy benchmarks for optimized service delivery to county residents. 

Congressional Caucus of Former Local Elected Officials 

In a move to fortify the intergovernmental partnership, NACo played an instrumental role in the reformation of the Congressional Caucus of Former Local Elected Officials for the 118th Congress. 

• First established in 2021, this caucus convenes former local government leaders now serving in Congress. 
• A collective goal: To enhance the nation’s intergovernmental dialogue, disseminate relevant policy updates and champion the voice of local governments in federal decision making.