WHAT HAPPENED: Congress broke for the
month.
WHAT IT MEANS: It might not seem like major
downtime to outsiders -- a few weeks -- but municipal officials know what we
and our national counterparts have been pushing for: immediate, direct
financial relief for municipal governments, hurt by negative revenue impacts under
the coronavirus shutdowns, so they can keep up with the everyday needs of their
residents and businesses and continue to drive the economy. Discussions among
federal decisionmakers haven’t signified being close to a deal on a relief
package.
ON TAP: Senators are expected back right after Labor
Day.
THE SKINNY: The case for direct funding to
cities and towns has swept through the newspapers and among business groups.
Now,
a new National
League of Cities report presents data showing how cities and towns
are on the brink, and how that’s bad for the entire country.
It’ll likely
be Sept. 8 before Congress turns the key on a COVID-19 relief package. The U.S.
Senate closed out
its session on Thursday and left town on plans to return at that
date, and did so without a deal in place for the next coronavirus relief
package, which we’ve urged to include direct relief for cities and towns so
hamstrung by the effects of the shutdowns. The lack of a deal isn’t
specifically over local funding; points like unemployment benefits and business
aid are in controversy. But for the National League of Cities (NLC), the timing
of the Senate’s leave was notable -- it coincided with the release of a
new report
that shows municipalities on the ropes.
NLC has
released its annual City Fiscal Conditions report for 35 years now, and the
newest one “reveals that America’s cities are experiencing the fiscal
consequences of this pandemic-downturn at an unprecedented speed -- and like
recent recessions, it will take years for municipal budgets to recover from the
impact of COVID-19,” the organization said. It surveyed 485 different
municipalities across the country for the report, which concludes direct
funding is “critical to the financial health of our nation.”
The National Governors
Association joined NLC and other local and state government groups this week in
addressing the pressing need. “Top economists including Fed Chairman Jerome
Powell, former Chairman Ben Bernanke and the leading ratings agencies agree
that helping states, territories, counties, cities and towns will blunt the
worst effects of the recession and help build a stronger recovery,” the
associations said in a
press release
“There is wide bipartisan agreement that state and local governments came into
this recession with unprecedented rainy-day reserves to help deal with the next
downturn. No one could have anticipated a once-in-a-century pandemic combined
with the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression, but with lives
and livelihoods on the line, state and local governments are stepping up and
answering the call.” The Wall Street Journal
has more coverage.
The low
response rate to the 2020 Census in North Carolina has new need for attention
with the Census Bureau’s announcement that it
will shorten the
Census timeline and end operations early. Please do all that you can
to encourage census responses in your community; non-responses will cost our
communities billions of dollars in federal funds.
The
following is from
Carolina
Demography:
"As of July 31,
approximately 4 million North Carolinians still need to respond to the census
or North Carolina risks losing out on an estimated $7.4 billion in funding each
year. N.C.’s current Census 2020 response rate is below the national rate and
below where our state was in 2010. North Carolina communities that have not
responded at high rates are predominantly rural, Black, and Brown, with low
internet access."
N.C.
House Speaker Tim Moore this week named members to the new House Select
Committee on Community Relations, Law Enforcement, and Justice, and has
included municipal government representation. The committee, whose members are
House lawmakers or appointed from the public, will look at the state’s criminal
justice systems in the process of proposing methods to improve police training
and relations with their communities.
Speaker
Moore noted that the committee will review accomplishments so far with the
Second Chance Act and Raise the Age law. Said Speaker Moore, “We have a unique
opportunity through our strong public membership represented on this committee
to continue making real progress for North Carolinians on issues that affect
our nation. This bipartisan committee includes diverse perspectives to confront
tough questions and identify policy reforms that help overcome discrimination,
excessive force, and corruption in the criminal justice system to improve
public safety for all North Carolinians.”
Joining
the committee by Speaker Moore’s appointment are Nicole Stewart of the Raleigh
City Council and NCLM Board of Directors along with Tariq Bokhari of the
Charlotte City Council. The full committee roster is available in a
press release.
Asheboro,
Dunn and Henderson are the newest of the North Carolina Main Street
Communities, recognizing hard work on downtown development and rejuvenation.
“We congratulate Asheboro, Dunn and Henderson on joining the ranks of our
state’s Main Street Communities,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary
Anthony M. Copeland. “This designation is a testament to the hard work of
community leaders in Asheboro, Dunn and Henderson. They have fully committed to
improving the economic well-being of their towns through the North Carolina
Main Street program, and their work serves to inspire other communities
considering downtown revitalization.” A
news release
has more.
The
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management
and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has announced a
“new, expedited” reimbursement program toward expanded non-congregate
sheltering in COVID-19 times.
“To
slow the spread of this virus, individuals with COVID-19 need to isolate and
avoid close contact with others — but in many circumstances that can be a
challenge,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen in a
news release
with details. “North Carolinians need access to non-congregate sheltering —
like hotels or dormitories — so they can isolate safely and protect their loved
ones. This expedited funding will help communities create options for North
Carolinians who need a safe place to isolate and recover due to COVID-19.”
The news release explained
the funding allows local jurisdictions, agencies and community organizations to
receive expedited reimbursements for all eligible costs.
