Local Government ARPA Investment Tracker

On December 8, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Medicaid and CHIP Services Informational Bulletin (CIB) directing states on how to implement the Medicaid community engagement requirements enacted under Section 71119 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act legislation (Public Law 119-21), or H.R. 1. 

Santa Clara County, Calif. will raise an estimated $330 million each year from a sales tax to backfill lose Medicaid funding.

County leaders from across the country have a vital opportunity to ensure their infrastructure priorities are front and center.

House reintroduced the Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act, bipartisan legislation intended to advance economic development in rural counties and overcome barriers to obtaining federal funding and resources. 

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

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.

Learn how to prepare for Hill meetings, effectively advocate for NACo priorities, and translate county experiences into clear federal policy asks.

Join NACo’s Membership Chair and staff to learn ways to maximize your experience at the NACo Legislative Conference.