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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.19.20 Email from Shari McCracken & Kristi More - Re_ SUPPORT NEEDED NOW - Local Government Funding in _3.5 Stimulus_ From:McCracken, Shari To:Alpert, Bruce;Bennett, Robin;Clerk of the Board;Connelly, Bill;Cook, Holly;Lambert, Steve;Lucero, Debra;McCracken, Shari;Pickett, Andy;Ring, Brian;Ritter, Tami;Rodas, Amalia;Sweeney, Kathleen;Teeter, Doug Subject:Re: SUPPORT NEEDED NOW - Local Government Funding in "3.5 Stimulus" Date:Sunday, April 19, 2020 11:08:14 AM Board Members, As a follow-up to the e-mail below, please know that I spoke with Kristi More, who in turn will share with staff for our Congressional delegation, that the County is not looking for funding levels above what is realistically justified. Our position is that we will need some assistance through federal funding, but don't believe any jurisdiction should get more than necessary to carry us through what could be an 18-month to 36-month loss of revenue. There are already a number of funding streams to assist in offsetting most of the costs associated with COVID-19 response, so we are most concerned about the revenue side of the equation and offset for the new leave benefits that we must cover 100%. Key is supporting businesses who support the economy, with some assistance for local government (not just big, local government). It is not in any jurisdiction's interest for this to be a "yes" or "no" discussion on funding - we would support negotiations among members, and some financial assistance is better than zero assistance. Whether the assistance comes through the federal government requiring the State to share a portion of the already approved stimulus packages or it comes in the form of additional funding that is realistic, either path provides us needed assistance. Again, if any of you are compelled to call our representatives, we are very mindful that every level of government will have to bear a portion of this pandemic and its impacts; we just don't think local government with under 500,000 population should carry a disproportionate amount of the burden. Thanks - and I'll now leave you alone and let you enjoy the rest of your weekend. Shari From: McCracken, Shari Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2020 8:26 AM To: BOS Subject: Fwd: SUPPORT NEEDED NOW - Local Government Funding in "3.5 Stimulus" Board Members, Please see the information, below, from Kristi More. If any of you are inclined to contact Congressman LaMalfa directly, please do so. The lost revenue includes funding we utilize for public safety (Prop 172), as well as 1991 and 2011 Realignment and MHSA used for most health and human services programs. Thank you, and I hope you're enjoying your weekend. Shari Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Kristi More <kmore@tfgnet.com> Date: April 19, 2020 at 8:18:35 AM PDT To: "McCracken, Shari" <SMcCracken@buttecounty.net> Cc: "Ring, Brian" <bring@buttecounty.net>, "Taggart, Kevin" <ktaggart@buttecounty.net>, Stephanie Missert <SMissert@tfgnet.com>, "Zachary Israel" <ZIsrael@tfgnet.com> Subject: RE: SUPPORT NEEDED NOW - Local Government Funding in "3.5 Stimulus" ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening attachments, .. clicking on links, or replying. Hi Shari – I added the information NACo sent it out their alert. It includes links to talking points and media messaging. We don’t need a letter from the Board at this point. I’ll use your letter from last week to support this and circle back with staff to make sure they understand how much will come to Butte County. If any of the Supervisors are inclined, a call to Rep. LaMalfa may be helpful. You could call Rep. LaMalfa’s staff directly as well. But let’s see how they respond to my email follow-up first. I’ll copy you on the email to them. Other than that, you could take NACo’s advice and utilize social media. FYI – News reports this morning are quoting Secretary Mnuchin as saying they are close to a deal with a possible vote in the Senate tomorrow, followed by the House on Tuesday. He’s only mentioned small business it looks like as he summarizes the “deal”. But we know the local government funding continues to pushed hard from Rep. Pelosi and others. It still may be a long shot in this package, but we believe it’s in the running. Thanks. ~Kristi COVID_CM_700_1024291_1532218.png URGENT ACTION NEEDED National Association of Counties Urges Congress, White House to Provide Immediate Relief to Support COVID-19 Response on the Ground COUNTIES CALL FOR UNITY TO ADDRESS UNPRECEDENTED PANDEMIC As congressional leaders and the White House negotiate the interim emergency coronavirus relief package, or the CONTACT YOUR MEMBERS COVID-19 3.5 supplemental package, we need your OF CONGRESS voice to ensure that county priorities are included, especially direct, immediate funding to counties of all CONTACT YOUR sizes. SENATORS The COVID-19 "3.5 plan" offered by the congressional Democratic leadership is the best and only offer on the CONTACT YOUR table for state and local governments right now. The REPRESENTATIVE plan would provide $150 billion in new funding for state and local governments, including $29.5 billion directly to all of America's counties to help cover expenditures and lost revenue. NACo's COUNTY-BY-COUNTY BREAKDOWN OF THE RELIEF PLAN In a report released yesterday, NACo found that the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to massive budgetary impacts for county governments and local taxpayers, with as much as $144 billion in lost revenue and increased expenditures through FY2021. Below, see NACo's talking points and Tweets to customize for your outreach to members of Congress and the administration. Also, please see NACo's press release and joint press release with the National League of Cities (NLC) and U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM). NACo NACo NACo-NLC-USCM PRESS TALKING POINTSPRESS RELEASERELEASE TAKE ACTION ON SOCIAL MEDIA Below are sample Tweets for you to underscore the importance of direct and flexible funding to county governments. Counties call on Congress and the administration to work together NOW to pass additional aid for state and local govts to support the vital services we deliver. #Counties are on the front lines: https://www.naco.org/resources/counties-matter-covid-19. #CountiesMatter Now is the time for the administration and Congress to unite and help counties fulfill our vast public health, public safety and economic recovery responsibilities. #Counties are on the front lines: https://www.naco.org/resources/counties-matter-covid-19 #CountiesMatter NACO_CM_VID_310_1029125.gif Click here to access all of NACo's curated social media posts and graphics on COVID- 19. COVID-19 UPDATESFROM NACo During this critical and unprecedented time, NACo is focused on advocating for the needs of counties at the federal level, disseminating useful information to our members, and facilitating the exchange of effective strategies and approaches. We have launched www.NACo.org/coronavirus, as well as this recurring digest of key resources for counties. Click below to subscribe to updates. NACo.org/coronavirusSUBSCRIBE TO UPDATES 660 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, D.C. 20001 Did someone forward you this email? Sign up to stay up-to-date on topics affecting America's counties! Clickhere to unsubscribe. -----Original Message----- From: McCracken, Shari <SMcCracken@buttecounty.net> Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2020 7:46 AM To: Kristi More <kmore@tfgnet.com> Cc: Ring, Brian <bring@buttecounty.net>; Taggart, Kevin <ktaggart@buttecounty.net>; Stephanie Missert <SMissert@tfgnet.com>; Zachary Israel <ZIsrael@tfgnet.com> Subject: Re: SUPPORT NEEDED NOW - Local Government Funding in "3.5 Stimulus" Kristi - are you looking for a Board request or for us to ask individual members to reach out to our delegation? If you want a Board letter, do you have draft language for us? Steve is out of town, but will be back later today. Thanks for clarifying, Shari Sent from my iPhone > On Apr 19, 2020, at 7:42 AM, Kristi More <kmore@tfgnet.com> wrote: > > . ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening attachments, clicking on links, or replying. . > All – > > We participated in a NACo conference call late yesterday evening regarding the current interim COVID-19 “3.5” package being negotiated between Congressional Democratic leadership, Republican leadership, and the Trump Administration. As NACo staff explained on the call, House Speaker Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Schumer announced (to NACo) how their request for an additional $150 billion<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://thefergusongroup.com/Portals/0/Interim*20Emergency*20COVID- 19*20Relief*20Act.pdf?ver=2020-04-09-102235- 103__;JSUlJQ!!KNMwiTCp4spf!TXW07C9R5vuaOVOCWLUTfM53- CCEjHWVWNNiYa_U7z0LNaIgc5NdMN4j764JtQNtDaultg$> in enhanced funding for coronavirus fiscal relief in the 3.5 package for state and local governments will be structured. County governments would specifically receive a total of $29.5 billion—of this set-aside, Butte County would receive an additional $19,434,586 (see attached spreadsheet from NACo). Importantly, this funding to Butte County could be utilized explicitly for lost revenues. In addition, changes in the deal would also allow any funding received from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (in the CARES Act) to be used for lost revenues, if the State decides to apportion some of their funds to local governments under 500,000 that is. > > NACo said that the Trump Administration and Senate Majority Leader McConnell are pushing very hard against including this additional funding (and the tweak to allow all of this money to be used for lost revenue) and are trying to get it pushed to the subsequent “Phase 4” COVID-19 relief package. At this point, a fourth package could be weeks or months away. NACo is urging all County leadership to immediately contact their Congressional delegation (especially Republican members of Congress) to support the inclusion of this funding in the 3.5 package (not the Phase 4 package) and to have the County’s GOP Senators make this request directly to Majority Leader McConnell and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin. > > Also, at this point, we do not believe the relief on the emergency paid sick and family leave programs is included in the package. The priority appears to have been placed on getting immediate, flexible, and direct revenue to local governments. But the reimbursement for the leave programs is still in the mix for future stimulus packages. > > Please let me know your thoughts ASAP about any action the County can take now. I plan to circle back with staff in both Senate offices as well as Rep. LaMalfa’s office in response to the County’s letters last week and ask for their support of this funding. I know NACo sent an alert on this as well that included media and social media resources as well as talking points. Let me know if you need that information and I can forward it to you. > > Sorry to bother you on a Sunday morning. Things are moving very quickly so I want to be sure we make contact today or first thing tomorrow morning if possible. > > Thank you. > > ~Kristi > > > \[TFG > logo\]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.thefergusongroup.com/__ ;! > !KNMwiTCp4spf!TXW07C9R5vuaOVOCWLUTfM53-CCEjHWVWNNiYa_U7z0LNaIgc5NdMN4j > 764JtQMocryAQg$> > > Kristi More > 202.454.3950 OFFICE > 916.849.1516 MOBILE > 1901 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20006 > TheFergusonGroup.com > > > <NACo COVID19 3.5 Local Relief Plan Analysis FINAL.pdf>