HomeMy WebLinkAbout022024 - County Countdown – February 20_ 2024ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
#NACoLeg wrap-up, federal budget watch and more
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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES
FEBRUARY 20, 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 <https://www.mmsend50.com/link.cfm?r=b_5cxdcAxAVR3h0NaLyCOA~~&pe=Eq0wbn3j-RV-wXzvfvum-KkcTzH-nkKnIWgKF2czotbFVjD4Qamrt6J76r_KitegF_b77FtULEyD1Dx_Jp0zSw~~&t=R-7NH6TWYDUP3sfJmw09pg~~>
and explore NACo resources below.
Estimated read time: 2.5 min. | Video duration: 3 min.
1
Legislative Conference Wrap-Up <https://www.mmsend50.com/link.cfm?r=b_5cxdcAxAVR3h0NaLyCOA~~&pe=7oEAiycgCnEsLREjtgBt5Is83uVJ8hZhmJuWZ14phGDjQyJxbkz2SdQIZ1yMxgglscE_O4DghQKCY_31AnJ51w~~&t=R-7NH6TWYDUP
3sfJmw09pg~~>
<https://www.mmsend50.com/link.cfm?r=b_5cxdcAxAVR3h0NaLyCOA~~&pe=FhZeo3DWPpbqKauoIVTq5pdNgXg3x0_ub9Aw1qIy52H6NHKGxSL_ULWy4_fzOpMmPQQNpOxfbBBqmnJ6PeHXLg~~&t=R-7NH6TWYDUP3sfJmw09pg~~>
Thank you to everyone who participated in NACo's Legislative Conference <https://www.mmsend50.com/link.cfm?r=b_5cxdcAxAVR3h0NaLyCOA~~&pe=k-zz0Sczv-I4eBuHm7JSHgeB_aCv8xDzyALb0jg7MC-xrsKezZo_JWpRHsG2xc
2I4Dy8GEc7sdnsK1DWDutoPg~~&t=R-7NH6TWYDUP3sfJmw09pg~~> last week. The conference brought together nearly 2,000 county officials to focus on federal policy issues that impact counties
and our residents.
* Conference highlights: We strengthened intergovernmental partnerships through bipartisan meetings and Capitol Hill briefings, the federal agency expo, and a keynote address from the
President of the United States.
* Explore new resources: Visit the conference homepage <https://www.mmsend50.com/link.cfm?r=b_5cxdcAxAVR3h0NaLyCOA~~&pe=bjFLn5vg8rk65IkC6B_GKm1QqVbDST25REPf2JbOReNOniBKGEqoJcIy44681t9Pr1Q2F1sBAyJ1MOx
vqBJueg~~&t=R-7NH6TWYDUP3sfJmw09pg~~> , as well as our advocacy hub <https://www.mmsend50.com/link.cfm?r=b_5cxdcAxAVR3h0NaLyCOA~~&pe=IK2p5EljZLg1j6uU9RmiDnRDOX5cfncHMYnsFsj9xKDOLX8WD4VUzmzTQ8F8xYK6fg
_S01xlYtQny4QF8KULjg~~&t=R-7NH6TWYDUP3sfJmw09pg~~> to check out new resources, and read coverage from County News here <https://www.mmsend50.com/link.cfm?r=b_5cxdcAxAVR3h0NaLyCOA~~&pe=jOEai5yQlhlbEX
NdCZraUGnYq_hm26xkp8FWAH0hMp5Jn9R6EMEdF0en1ezsMGMPDNOvkTgK4cUH_DSqn4snlA~~&t=R-7NH6TWYDUP3sfJmw09pg~~> .
* Stay tuned for a full recap and new tools, and follow us on social media for the latest.
2
Federal Budget Watch
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As the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 federal budget deadline looms once again, NACo is focused on engaging Congress to ensure long-term certainty for essential programs supporting food security
and internet access.
* Food security: As Congress negotiates funding for FY 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is warning of a $1 billion budget shortfall <https://www.mmsend50.com/link.cfm?r=b_5cxdcAxAVR3h0
NaLyCOA~~&pe=u6wNS3OSa7AGkdNrB9o9IO3K6g5NbCjH1xMBCK7gPJe7aRXiyT7pzDFB_9kJ5DPJBimQcCw1fnqBk_G13HTHAA~~&t=R-7NH6TWYDUP3sfJmw09pg~~> within the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for
Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
* Broadband: Urge your members of Congress to support the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Extension Act of 2024 <https://www.mmsend50.com/link.cfm?r=b_5cxdcAxAVR3h0NaLyCOA~~&pe=i2LgeEaCUKOS-ziF
9lSNp5Lw8tVyXUpHGmgVONahoNSUY6ECkzO_258D2goqKaScj-vJqqU-tPI_sHkvqNSMUw~~&t=R-7NH6TWYDUP3sfJmw09pg~~> . The ACP has become an important resource for counties to promote high-speed internet
services to underserved communities.
3
Administering the 2024 Election <https://www.mmsend50.com/link.cfm?r=b_5cxdcAxAVR3h0NaLyCOA~~&pe=l-IlT3IM6nAz8ag2TIwCiENc65PMa5dz4fY3ZJYNTrYVG5JvkDELMWuw_QKUck7VP_ezwYTMajTJHpkRV3Gjig~~&t=R-7NH6TWYDU
P3sfJmw09pg~~>
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Federal election security funding is also a priority in the 2024 federal budget process. As elections become increasingly complex, counties need federal support <https://www.mmsend50.com/link.cfm?r=b
_5cxdcAxAVR3h0NaLyCOA~~&pe=wCEpFB6u4VSFXxfYBfM5dmMaHZMFAfydDFeJU6J_Egv5RVtFB4HakNUBj7MfJojGDuWJllWOB2_kFa-B7RrSWA~~&t=R-7NH6TWYDUP3sfJmw09pg~~> for training, infrastructure and personnel.
* County role: Counties are responsible for funding and managing over 100,000 polling places staffed with over 630,000 poll workers each election cycle.
* Take action: Use NACo's Election Administration Federal Advocacy Toolkit <https://www.mmsend50.com/link.cfm?r=b_5cxdcAxAVR3h0NaLyCOA~~&pe=en_oLAA1X3B1JH788RDhnqROMgygs0-c2B2oSnpG9IZ9pyklBWMxu2oAmEg
IEQHkc4Yev6HB_ai4y6a2XLSnOg~~&t=R-7NH6TWYDUP3sfJmw09pg~~> to highlight the county role with your members of Congress.
* Dive deep: Listen <https://www.mmsend50.com/link.cfm?r=b_5cxdcAxAVR3h0NaLyCOA~~&pe=K6H4p0HEQFILcCEyP1e8rvqM1Km0F9VYrolkEN1_vGMLgBbDg9y8612KoK5H9TrhSF67fsgRU3VRYXiCMaXL3A~~&t=R-7NH6TWYDUP3sfJmw09pg~
~> to the recent County News Podcast where the team talks shop with county election officials <https://www.mmsend50.com/link.cfm?r=b_5cxdcAxAVR3h0NaLyCOA~~&pe=Owc9cUm_b5JtW28UW3K13xGYFVS6Zx5IgqOjzsM
5faOJnhamjinZPF8EBI30sif7t6f6dc-VYn2mSZq_KDordA~~&t=R-7NH6TWYDUP3sfJmw09pg~~> .
4
SALT Deduction <https://www.mmsend50.com/link.cfm?r=b_5cxdcAxAVR3h0NaLyCOA~~&pe=W_hMFCOzDTcEGcZAUxSPPbXA3nPUQJhwgkRSRh_HvtAY0_FYAaU14vo9W5oKKcItlM5_tUJeC-bZIto8oAZ9YQ~~&t=R-7NH6TWYDUP3sfJmw09pg~~>
<https://www.mmsend50.com/link.cfm?r=b_5cxdcAxAVR3h0NaLyCOA~~&pe=EOeBo4wR4_WTwfPovzoMd9kQVNzFPyzDPszjH_100AmtbQun-kremXsDZ6eqYvtQELObyaljIX1fjUreUCMp1w~~&t=R-7NH6TWYDUP3sfJmw09pg~~>
While Congress has rejected a state and local tax (SALT) deduction reform <https://www.mmsend50.com/link.cfm?r=b_5cxdcAxAVR3h0NaLyCOA~~&pe=7IvSvZ8soTBC8emOq5t8tFIapclek3hgN2qkcycY2HRgZCB7h0OYrFq8bfq6
Je-Mm1LnG2xT0_nwcatGxUndVw~~&t=R-7NH6TWYDUP3sfJmw09pg~~> bill, NACo continues to advocate for fair tax provisions <https://www.mmsend50.com/link.cfm?r=b_5cxdcAxAVR3h0NaLyCOA~~&pe=5NGaBT5moFo-Y6MFbA0
kgWbOxtYS7GYvUw9enigcTzQ2BhTo6W5ekcWYOlg7v9rLhu9jQqDexke_sUDXfY4YdA~~&t=R-7NH6TWYDUP3sfJmw09pg~~> .
* Unfair tax implications: The current SALT deduction structure burdens homeowners disproportionately compared to landlords, and caps married couples at a lower amount per person than
individuals.
* Ongoing advocacy: NACo aims to revisit the issue with Congress for equitable tax treatment.
5
HOME Investment Partnerships Program <https://www.mmsend50.com/link.cfm?r=b_5cxdcAxAVR3h0NaLyCOA~~&pe=ZePPQ-P70ZjPpdq-ZhVQj_hw9E2pCJb_GP9KusCo93FOjHal2dUW0XsHg58KrKa4EvzvZmK2E3_xbt5qzVW_Dg~~&t=R-7NH6
TWYDUP3sfJmw09pg~~>
<https://www.mmsend50.com/link.cfm?r=b_5cxdcAxAVR3h0NaLyCOA~~&pe=Ku1LLt-96HVwZM8mD6y2wshORZZuuHiy1FkbNidtdvF-1rQJ4mizduyFpQla_UGFbVj81AEiir_T1xfYCxKqWg~~&t=R-7NH6TWYDUP3sfJmw09pg~~>
In the coming weeks, expect more discussion around the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's HOME Investment Partnership Program.
* Legislation introduced in the U.S. House and Senate <https://www.mmsend50.com/link.cfm?r=b_5cxdcAxAVR3h0NaLyCOA~~&pe=g7nJMgCqD1wSyqQdRZYHptN89VgXoXUT5auJHq3cAWbT8zFKwQvKN1Fr8lx3j0Gaze6yHiXwRfq-OxFq
SX9Gvg~~&t=R-7NH6TWYDUP3sfJmw09pg~~> would reauthorize the program and incrementally increase authorization levels until 2028.
* The HOME program is the largest federal block grant for state and local governments, designed to create affordable housing for low-income households.
* Counties can use HOME funds for a wide range of activities, including building, buying and/or rehabilitating housing for rent or homeownership, or providing direct rental assistance
to low-income people.
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