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Contact Your Congressional Delegation and Share Your Priorities
As Congress negotiates another COVID-19/Economic Relief package, below are some of the concerns we will continue to share with our Congressional delegation.
You should contact your U.S. Senators and Congressman to share with them what your county and community would like to part of the next piece of federal legislation.
As local governments across the country continue to face a massive loss of tax revenue coupled with the major costs of COVID-19 response, Indiana is not immune. Counties in the Hoosier state face significant, long term budget shortfalls without continued assistance from our government partners. The assistance provided by the CARES Act is sincerely appreciated by our members, and yet we must ask you to consider the matter again.
Indiana's unique fiscal structure will create a lengthy impact period for fiscal losses related to COVID-19. In Indiana, there are certainly some funds that are seeing immediate impacts such as state road funding distributions, hotel/motel tax receipts, food/beverage tax receipts, and casino tax receipts. For example, counties with food and beverage taxes are seeing decreased distributions already. Also, Indiana's reduced state-level road infrastructure receipts have been hit dramatically and led to the postponement of the second call for projects in the Community Crossings Grant Fund. These funds, however, are the tip of the iceberg. There will be more significant budget hits when distributions from local income taxes are short for the FY 2022 budget and lowered property tax revenue should the economic crises spread to residential, commercial and industrial property values.
We urge the U.S. Senate to pass further measures to assist county government manage the fiscal impacts of COVID-19. While the CARES Act was well received, it does restrain how the money may be spent in several ways. We ask that the existing (and any future) funding be flexible to allow each county to use the assistance in a means that reflects the unique needs of that county. For many counties, this will include revenue replacement for funds that are already being reduced, as well as the delayed distributions that will arrive in FY 2022. Indiana's unique distribution system will cause our impacted distributions to be felt long after the timeline of the current CARES funding expires. Many parts of Indiana need broadband development to make working or studying from a home a realistic option.
Suggested changes to CARES Act funding and new federal legislation.
- Remove the ability of the state to implement more restrictive uses than federal law or US Treasury guidelines.
- Extend the time a unit may spend its allocation of CARES Act money. It is unlikely expenses related to CARES Act will be over at the end of the 2020 calendar year.
- Allow some of the CARES Act money to be used for revenue replacement for dedicated revenues such as roads, income tax dedicated to construction/bond payments, food and beverage tax or innkeepers' tax.
- Ensure that liability protections extend to county governments as employers and county functions when the county takes reasonable protections to protect county workers and users of county functions such as the jails, elections or attendance at public meetings.
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AIC Endorsed Program eNewsletter Sponsor
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AIC District Meetings - Survey Request
Thank you to all of those that attended one of our six District Meetings. Please take this short survey to let us know your feedback from our recent District Meetings. Click here and then click on the meeting that you attended to complete the survey.
Thank you to our sponsors of the 2020 AIC District Meetings.
GOLD
AMERESCO, Inc.
APEX Benefits Group, Inc.
Bliss McKnight, Inc.
Constellation
Tyler Technologies
SILVER
Baker Tilly
Butler, Fairman, Seufert, Inc.
Janssen & Spaans Engineering, Inc.
Low Associates
MAXIMUS
SRI, Inc.
XSoft
Additional Sponsors
STAR Financial Bank
Tax Management Associates, Inc.
Van Ausdall & Farrar
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New grant program to help Indiana Main Street organizations
The goal is to support Indiana Main Street organizations that provide leadership and activities to the public, using the Main Street Approach™, with special attention to organizations who have been significantly impacted by COVID-19.
Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to at least forty Main Street programs based on demonstration of the following:
- A designated Indiana Main Street with an operational history of at least two consecutive years;
- Demonstrated impact of COVID-19 on their Main Street community;
- Provided explanation of how a reduction of funds has impacted the program's activities;
- Explanation of how funds will assist the organization and what future funding will support;
- Demonstrated operating costs in excess of $10,000;
- A current work plan; and
- rural/urban representation of applicants.
Eligible expenses could include salaries, administrative/consultant fees, space/equipment rental or staff development and training. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and can be submitted at any time beginning today. Each eligible application will be reviewed and awarded by OCRA on a first come, first serve basis until funds are depleted. Upon receiving a fully executed grant agreement, the grantee will receive 100 percent of the grant award.
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Planning Grants are now open for applications
The Office of Community and Rural Affairs today announced the Planning Grant program is now open for applications. This will be the only round for the year, with applications being accepted until 4 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, 2020. Based on feedback, there will no longer be a round due on September 15.
If you intend to submit an application for a plan that was initiated prior to the program's suspension, please contact your Community Liaison to discuss the impacts of the updates and potential options.
The next round for applications is due at 4 p.m. on January 15, 2021.
Remember to use the updated application and minimum plan requirements, which can be found on our website. Applications submitted after October 15 must be submitted via the electronic Grants Management System. More information about the transition from PDF to digital applications for planning grants will be provided at a later date.
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Save Time and Find More Yield With eConnect Direct®
ASSOCIATEMEMBERS
MULTI-BANK SECURITIES, INC.®
In a volatile time when revenue from interest rates has fallen, it can be difficult for publicfunds investors to find competitive yields within policy and statutory guidelines. That's why AIC has worked with Associate Member Multi-Bank Securities, Inc. since 2015.
MBS offers a proprietary online investment platform, eConnectDirect®. This powerful tool lets investors quickly compare offerings from more than 200 dealers, select the most suitable investment in the market and submit their order request online. Search parameters can be set up for an individual county and state.
"MBS's staff is professional - there's never a hard sales pitch," said David Bottorff, AIC Executive Director. The AIC uses the program to help determine the best available rate of return for secure investments. "Their eConnectDirect platform has made investing for AIC easier and more efficient. They remit interest promptly, and eConnectDirect generates helpful and easy-to-understand laddered investment reports. It's like shopping for the best available rate through airline or hotel platforms."
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HEALS Act Introduced as Next Round of COVID-19 Relief
This week the Senate Republicans introduced legislation (HEALS Act) regarding the next round of COVID-19 relief. The bill allows for up to 25% of CARES Act money to be used to replace certain types of revenue lost to counties due to the unprecedented economic downturn. The bill also limits restrictions the state can place on CARES Act money beyond the restrictions of US Treasury guidance,. Also, the bill would allow a county to spend CARES Act money up to 90 days past the end of their fiscal year. The HEALS Act is substantially different than the HEROES Act introduced by House Democrats weeks ago but negotiations should happen in earnest over the next 7-10 days.
For the state's version of the CARES Act being administered through the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA), ten counties still have not signed up for the program. You can also read reports on how much counties, cities and towns have been reimbursed from the program and expenses by category spent to date. CARES Act Disbursement by Expense Category
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A Message from Anton Neff, AIC Board President about the 2020 Annual Conference
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Ivy Tech's Rapid Recovery Report - August 3, 2020
EMPLOYMENT AND WORKFORCE/EDUCATION DATA TRENDS
*Just over 20,000 Hoosiers filed first-time unemployment claims the week ending July 25, the lowest level in more than four months, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
*The U.S. economy contracted at a record rate in the second quarter of 2020. The Commerce Department's estimate of U.S. gross domestic product fell by a 32.9 % annual rate, the sharpest decline in over 70 years.
*Pew Research Center analysis of Census Bureau data indicates that the "disconnection rate" of young adults aged 16-24 who were neither enrolled in school nor employed more than doubled between February and June.
*Strada Education Network's latest Public Viewpoint research suggests at least one-third of Americans prefer online education, and that women are more likely than men to pursue online options.
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NACo Update
Op-Ed: If State and Local Governments Continue to Struggle, So Will America
NACo, in an op-ed published on CNN.com, with the National Governors Association, National Conference of State Legislatures, International City/County Management Association, United States Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities and Council of State Governments, calls for direct federal support for state and local governments as we confront the coronoavirus pandemic.
NACo Tech Xchange | FirstNet with AT&T - The COVID-19 Experience
AUGUST 13 | 2 - 3 P.M. EDT
Learn how FirstNet prepared for the escalating national crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This webinar will cover applications, technical requirements, and network utilization, as well as highlight specific cases of how FirstNet was deployed to hard hit communities and the USS Comfort and USS Mercy.
How Counties are Investing CARES Act Dollars in Social Safety Net Services AUGUST 19 | 2 - 3 P.M. EDT Hear from county leaders about how CRF plans are supporting individuals most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Explore NACo's Past COVID-19 Webinars
Miss a recent webinar, or want to catch up on a range of topics critical to counties in addressing the coronavirus pandemic? Access our recordings of past COVID-19 webinars.
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2020 Drainage School - August 26, 2020
Drainage School promotes an understanding of the laws and regulations impacting drainage decisions in Indiana. Seminar attendees will gain a greater knowledge of drainage law and dispute resolution. Farmers, public officials, agency personnel,attorneys and members of the general public are invited. This program is being offered via Zoom - online conferencing. There is no cost to attend - you must register to participate. Registration deadline is August 20, 2020. Continuing education credits for attorneys and surveyors is being sought. See full agenda here.
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AIC Institute for Excellence in County Government
Budget & Finance I
Every year there are a number of changes both major and minor to the budgeting process. Whether you are seasoned or new to the budget process, this class has information that will be of assistance to you. Jason Semler and Paige Sansone from Baker Tilly will enlighten us on how to estimate miscellaneous revenues along with managing those revenues throughout the year. Jacque Clements will discuss cumulative funds, additional appropriations, and encumbrances.
Click here to register for this online class. This class was offered live stream from the AIC offices and then also recorded for viewing at a later date.
Budget & Finance II
In the challenges of the unprecedented times of the pandemic, it is more important than ever to think about budgeting for more than one year at a time. Greg Guerrattaz of FSG Group will inform the attendees of the importance of considering 3 years when budgeting. Lisa Lee of Ice Miller will also inform every one of the requirements and step by step procedure when doing short term borrowing.
This class was offered live stream from the AIC offices and then also recorded for viewing at a later date. Please click here to register for this online class.
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APEX Health Benefits Tip
As families take fun summer escapes to pools, beaches and lakes, it is crucial to remember the importance of water safety. According to the American Red Cross, drowning is among the leading causes of death in children. Make sure you are equipped with knowledge and preparation to enjoy the water safely!
- Always swim with a buddy in designated areas, preferably with lifeguard supervision.
- Do not leave children unattended. Avoid distractions and always be within arm's length, particularly with children under the age of 5 or those with limited swimming experience.
- Learn to swim as a family! The earlier the better. Find a class near you.
- Particularly while boating, always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
- Keep a first aid kit with you.
- While at a beach or swimming in open water, obey all signs and warning flags.
- Do not swim if there is lightning.
For more information on water safety, visit the American Red Cross website. Stay alert and prepared to ensure you and your loved ones safely enjoy all water adventures this summer has to offer!
Enjoy the recipe of the week:
Indianapolis, IN 46240
D 317.254.1600 / F 317.254.1606
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