U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis (R-IL) and John Katko (R-NY) led almost 100 of their colleagues in calling for strengthened federal funding and greater flexibility for all sizes of county governments around the country in the next COVID-19 emergency relief package.
“Moving forward, we must empower our local governments with greater flexibility to spend federal relief dollars as they see fit, including to help make up for the loss of expected tax revenues or other unexpected budget shortfalls,” the members wrote in a May 1 letter sent to U.S. House leaders.
While funding provided through the Coronavirus Relief Fund in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was an important first step in getting much-needed relief to local governments, the members wrote that the additional stipulation that only localities of over 500,000 residents would receive direct funding makes it difficult for counties to know how much of their state’s allocation will be available for their needs.
“We are particularly concerned that smaller and more rural counties — which need to continue operating their hospitals, emergency response centers, and more — receive adequate resources to successfully address the needs of their residents,” wrote Reps. Davis, Katko, and their colleagues. “As such, we urge you to disburse funding directly to localities to ensure that these allocations more closely reflect the special role and critical responsibilities of county governments of all sizes during this public health crisis.”
National Association of Counties Executive Director Matthew Chase, who applauded the lawmakers’ letter, said the pandemic is leading to “massive budgetary impacts” for counties and local taxpayers, with as much as $144 billion in lost revenue and increased expenditures through fiscal year 2021.
“Investing in counties means investing in our local economies and workforces,” Chase said.