Legislative Analysis for Counties: FY 2024 Appropriations

This program brings locally or regionally produced foods into schools, including sourcing local agriculture for school meal programs, providing hands-on learning activities and consolidating food-related education into standards-based classroom curriculum. Counties support the initiatives that promote access to healthy food in schools while supporting local agriculture. 

WIC supports early childhood development, a key county priority, through nutrition assistance and service referrals. Though administered at the state level, WIC operates through 1,900 local agencies, including county health departments, at thousands of clinic sites. 

The Water and Waste Disposal Program helps counties make critical investments in our nation's water infrastructure. Critical infrastructure, such as water and wastewater, remain a priority for many rural communities. The cost of building, maintaining, and upgrading local water systems is a challenge for many small towns and rural counties. Beyond the public health interests, clean and reliable water is a necessity to spur economic growth. Studies have concluded that water and sewer projects can save or create jobs in rural communities by attracting and retaining businesses.  

The Rural e-Connectivity (ReConnect) Loan and Grant Program furnishes loans and grants to provide funds for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas. NACo supports federal funding for broadband connectivity infrastructure projects that build out to unserved and underserved areas.    

The purpose of this program is to encourage and improve telemedicine services and distance learning services in rural areas using telecommunications, computer networks, and related advanced technologies by students, teachers, medical professionals, and rural residents. 

NACo supports federal funding for broadband connectivity infrastructure projects that build out to unserved and underserved areas.  

The Community Connect provides financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide broadband service in rural, economically-challenged communities where service does not exist. 

NACo supports federal funding for broadband connectivity infrastructure projects that build out to unserved and underserved areas.    

This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings. Counties support extending eligibility for the Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program to rural governments to provide financial assistance to county operated facilities.  

Rural Housing Services’ rural housing loan and rental assistance programs give families and individuals the opportunity to buy, build, rent or repair affordable homes located in rural America. NACo supports the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) housing programs and opposes any effort to move these programs to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

Administered by USDA's Rural Business-Cooperative Service, rural business programs assists rural communities with creating and expanding entrepreneurship and job creation opportunities, as well as develop and access new markets and products, through strategic investments and technical assistance. NACo calls on Congress to provide needed support to USDA so that it may explore innovative approaches for building community capacity and introduce additional economic enhancement opportunities to rural businesses. 

The Rural Cooperative Development Grant program improves the economic condition of rural areas by helping individuals and businesses start, expand or improve rural cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses through Cooperative Development Centers. NACo supports this flexibility and urges Congress to adequately fund Rural Housing, Rural Business  

Cooperative and Rural Utility Services during the annual appropriations process. 

The EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth. 

Counties support accurate and fair census data, which impacts the distribution of funding across numerous federal programs. NACo supports full funding for the American Community Survey, which provides county leaders with critical data to demonstrate emerging and local trends. Counties also support the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates program and the Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) Program. 

Byrne-JAG provides resources to counties across the country to utilize emerging and evidence-based approaches to address the public safety challenges facing their jurisdictions 

The COPS program supports local law enforcement agencies to ensure they have the tools, personnel and resources necessary to protect and serve their communities every day. 

SCAAP reimburse states and local governments – including counties – for the cost of incarcerating undocumented immigrants who have been convicted of certain crimes. 

Second Chance Act grants provide counties with the resources needed to help individuals successfully reintegrate back into the community following their release from jail 

JJDPA is the principal federal program through which the federal government sets standards for the care and custody of juveniles and provides direct funding to counties to facilitate compliance with these standards. 

JMHCP provides state and local governments with grants for a broad range of activities, including jail diversion programs, mental health courts, creating or expanding community-based treatment programs and providing in-jail treatment and transitional services 

The Drug Courts program grants to states, state courts, local courts and local governments for the development and establishment of drug courts. 

The Veterans’ Treatment Courts program provides grants and technical assistance for state, local and tribal governments interested in starting or expanding veteran treatment court programs.  

PDMP provides funding for electronic databases that track controlled substance prescriptions. PDMPs help providers identify patients at risk of opioid misuse, abuse and/or overdose due to overlapping prescriptions, high dosages, or co-prescribing of opioids with benzodiazepines. 

500 counties serve as home to at least one military installation, and county leaders are committed to ensuring that active-duty service members and their families have the supports and resources they need to thrive. Military Personnel funding includes military pay, suicide prevention and sexual assault response programs, the basic allowance for housing, basic needs allowance and other provisions impacting qualify of life for active, reserve, and National Guard military personnel. 

The Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program supports cost-sharing agreements between the Military Services and state and local governments to preserve military organizations by avoiding land use conflicts near military installations, addressing environmental restrictions that limit military activities and increasing resilience to climate change. 

Counties support the Weatherization Assistance Program, which helps low-income households make weatherization and energy-efficiency improvements to their homes to reduce energy costs. 

Counties support federal investment in water infrastructure projects at the local level.  

USCIS administers the nation’s naturalization and immigration system including work verification for employers and processing applications for permanent residence. Funding may be used for USCIS operations and support including the E-Verify Program, application processing, the reduction of backlogs within asylum, field, and service center offices, and support of the refugee program. 

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) Shelter and Services Program (SSP), formerly known as the Emergency Food and Shelter-Humanitarian Aid (EFSP-H) program, provides funding to county governments and non-profits who are receiving influxes of migrants. Counties are the traditional front-line providers of social, health and supportive services, and this funding helps relieve that financial burden.  

The DRF allows FEMA to fund authorized federal disaster support activities as well as eligible state, local, tribal and territorial actions such as providing emergency protection, rebuilding, and debris removal. 

This program assists state, local and tribal efforts to prevent acts of terrorism and prepare to respond to threats and hazards that pose security risks for localities. 

UASI Programs assists high-threat, high-density urban areas in efforts to build and sustain the capabilities necessary to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to and recover from acts of terrorism 

EMPG funds local programs to build and maintain core infrastructure needed to protect, mitigate and recover from disasters. 

AFG provides financial assistance for critically needed resources to equip and train emergency personnel and support community resilience 

SAFER grants provide direct funding to fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations to help increase or maintain the number of trained firefighters available in their communities 

County officials believe federal, state and local governments must work together to combat the threat of wildfire threat to communities, livelihoods and the environment. This effort must include accelerated harvest and fuels reductio, post-fire recovery and restoration efforts, addressing regulatory burdens, stopping frivolous lawsuits, and appropriating sufficient funds to effectively combat wildfire on public lands without jeopardizing other accounts. 

County officials believe federal, state and local governments must work together to combat the threat of wildfire threat to communities, livelihoods and the environment. This effort must include accelerated harvest and fuels reductio, post-fire recovery and restoration efforts, addressing regulatory burdens, stopping frivolous lawsuits, and appropriating sufficient funds to effectively combat wildfire on public lands without jeopardizing other accounts. 

NACo supports additional payments over and above other payments to local governments based on the revenue generated from the natural resource use and extraction within those counties' jurisdiction. 

County officials believe federal, state and local governments must work together to combat the threat of wildfire threat to communities, livelihoods and the environment. This effort must include accelerated harvest and fuels reductio, post-fire recovery and restoration efforts, addressing regulatory burdens, stopping frivolous lawsuits, and appropriating sufficient funds to effectively combat wildfire on public lands without jeopardizing other accounts. 

County officials believe federal, state and local governments must work together to combat the threat of wildfire threat to communities, livelihoods and the environment. This effort must include accelerated harvest and fuels reductio, post-fire recovery and restoration efforts, addressing regulatory burdens, stopping frivolous lawsuits, and appropriating sufficient funds to effectively combat wildfire on public lands without jeopardizing other accounts. 

As coregulators and environmental stewards, counties believe the federal government should coordinate with state and local governments to decide jointly when and how to list species, designate critical habitat and plan and manage for species recovery and delisting. 

Counties urge support for federal land agencies in the management of wild horse and burro populations to achieve appropriate management levels as authorized by federal law. Further, counties support the sale, adoption or humane slaughter of excess animals and the funding and utilization of sterilization technology and methods proven to be effective in controlling herd sizes. 

Acquisition or disposal of new land, conservation easements and water rights by any federal agency should be subject to coordination with the county in which the land is located, and consistent with local land use or natural resource plans. Counties should be given the opportunity to participate in the development of terms and conditions of any such proposal before it is carried out. 

Counties support increased funding for overdue capital and deferred maintenance projects in national parks, national forests, and other public lands. This includes funding to support roads, bridges, trails, campgrounds, visitor centers, interpretive projects, and related facilities. 

Counties support increased funding for overdue capital and deferred maintenance projects in national parks, national forests, and other public lands. This includes funding to support roads, bridges, trails, campgrounds, visitor centers, interpretive projects, and related facilities. 

Counties support the EPA Brownfields Program, which provides funding to counties and other eligible entities to assess, cleanup and redevelop brownfield sites across the country.  

Counties support the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), which provides capitalization grants to states who then provide communities with low-cost financing for a wide range of water quality infrastructure projects.  

*NOTE: In addition to $787.65 million in Clean Water State Revolving Fund earmarks, the total for FY 2024 is $1.64 billion, equal to FY 2023 funding 

Counties support the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), which provides capitalization grants to states who then provide communities with low-cost financing to support water systems.  

*NOTE: In addition to $631.66 million in Drinking Water State Revolving Fund earmarks, the total for FY 2024 is $1.13 billion which is equal to FY 2023 funding 

Counties support the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA), which provides low-cost, flexible loans to counties and other eligible entities for water infrastructure projects.  

Counties support the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Program grants, which provides funding to counties and other eligible entities to address diesel emissions in their communities. 

Counties support the National Estuary Program, which aims to protect and restore the water quality and ecological integrity of 28 estuaries across the country.  

Counties support the Superfund Program, which provides for the assessment and cleanup of hazardous waste at contaminated and abandoned industrial sites. 

*NOTE: The Superfund program is now also receiving revenue through the Superfund Chemical Excise Taxes, which were reinstated in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The President's FY24 budget anticipated an estimated $2.2 billion in Superfund tax revenue to be available in calendar year 2025 

Counties support the Targeted Airshed Grants Program, which provides funding to counties and other eligible entities to reduce air pollution in nonattainment areas with the highest level of ozone and PM2.5 ambient air concentrations.  

WIOA provides federal funding to states and counties for a wide range of workforce development and job training programs for jobseekers and employers. WI empowers state and local governments to connect individuals with in-demand skills training and education, and businesses to skilled jobseekers. WIOA Title I focuses on workforce development activities at the state and local level and establishes funding for three key formula grants - Adult, Dislocated Workers and Youth programs. 

Provides training, job search aid and other assistance for workers that are about to be laid off or have been laid off. 

Provides individualized career training services to jobseekers above the age of 18, with priority given to low-income individuals receiving public assistance. 

Provides training and education to individuals between the ages of 14 and 24, focusing primarily on youth who are out of school and face barriers to employment.  

Counties play an important role in providing access to apprenticeships and efforts to expand employment opportunities are supported by counties. 

Counties support continued funding for veterans’ vocational rehabilitation and apprenticeship opportunities. 

CCDBG is the discretionary portion of the Child Care and Development Fund, which provides benefits to low-income families to help them access affordable, high quality child care. This program is county-administered in 8 states: Colorado, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. 

Head Start and Early Head Start promote school readiness for infants and children up to five years of age from low-income families by enhancing cognitive, social and emotional development. County governments play an important role in the operation of Head Start and Early Head Start programs, whether by directly serving as one of the nation’s 1,600 local grantees and/or contributing local funding to the non-federal match requirement or to expand the program within the jurisdiction. 

The PDG B-5 program provides funding to build upon existing federal, state, and local early care and learning investments.  Funds support a needs assessment, strategic planning, family engagement, quality improvement, workforce compensation and supports, and direct services for young children. 

LIHEAP delivers short-term benefits to low-income households to afford home heating, cooling and weatherization costs. County governments fully or partially administer LIHEAP in 13 states: Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin. 

CSBG funds a network of 1,000 local public and private agencies to perform a range of eligible anti-poverty activities. CSBG agencies operate in 99 percent of the nation's counties and often involve local officials in their governing structures. While the majority of CSBG grantees are non-profit organizations, 159 are local governments. 

ACL is responsible for administering programs that help older adults and disabled individuals live independently and remain part of their community, activities that prevent elder neglect and abuse and local, conducting aging and disability research and administering Aging Disability and Resource Centers. The largest program within ACL is the Older Americans Act, which funds grants to states that they must directly pass on to local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), which coordinate programs and services for senior citizens at the local level. County governments are key recipients of OAA dollars and provide a wide range of services to the aging population. 

The Chafee Foster Care Independence program provides grants to states for services aimed at supporting current and former foster youth. While most of this funding is mandatory, the Chafee Education and Training Vouchers program provides discretionary funds to defray the cost of postsecondary education or training for eligible youth. Counties are fully or partially responsible for the child welfare system in 11 states (California, Colorado, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin) and support enhanced federal funding to improve outcomes for youth aging out of the foster care system. 

Formula grants under Title IV-B provide flexible funding to enhance the well-being of children and families, prevent child abuse and neglect, and provide support for children in and out-of-home care. Counties are fully or partially responsible for the child welfare system in 11 states (California, Colorado, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin). These states vary in their structure of Title IV-B, with some passing funds through to counties, others administering the funds directly or deploying a combination of the two approaches. The mandatory portion of Title IV-B receives $345 million annually. 

SSBG provides funding to states to support a wide range of social services for vulnerable children, adults and families. Counties administer the program in 9 states: Colorado, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin. Though SSBG is funded via mandatory dollars, as a capped entitlement, Congress sets funding levels for the program each year during the appropriations process.  

County behavioral health authorities rely on SUBG funding for the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders (SUD). Each state and jurisdiction is given flexibility to distribute SUBG funds to units of local government. 

Approximately 750 county behavioral health authorities receive block grant funding from SAMHSA to plan and operate and finance community-based services for people with mental illness, and substance use conditions or intellectual/developmental disabilities. 

The Rural Communities Opioid Response Program is administered by HRSA, and is a multi-year initiative that addresses barriers to treatment for substance use disorder, including opioid use disorder. The program provides direct funding to select counties to reduce the morbidity and mortality of SUD/OUD in high-risk rural communities by strengthening and expanding prevention, treatment and recovery services. 

Opioid State Response Grants are formula funds awarded to states, territories and jurisdictions to support the expansion of addiction treatment and recovery activities, with the aim of reducing unmet treatment needs and opioid overdose deaths. 

NHSC is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and provides financial and other support to primary care providers in exchange for their service in underserved communities. It is a vital lifeline for rural counties and communities with large numbers of indigent and uninsured residents. 

The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Block Grant program provides federal funding to states to support access to quality maternal and child health services for pregnant women who are low income and at-risk. Counties may access funds through suballocations from the state. 

Discretionary funding under the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) makes federal investments in the sustainability rural healthcare providers, increases funding for rural residency programs, and ensures that coal miners and their families receive health benefits. The funding also assists in building the health care workforce in rural communities by increasing the number of individuals attending medical schools or other training programs and returning or staying in their community to provide care. 

The Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative currently provides funding and resources direct to 48 counties to reduce new HIV infections by 75 percent by 2025 and by 90 percent over the next 10 years. 

Counties plan and operate community-based services for persons with mental illness and substance abuse conditions through 750 behavioral health authorities and community health providers. Counties utilize the Mental Health Block Grant to provide a range of services for adults and children with serious mental illnesses. 

The community health centers fund supports local health centers, many of which are county owned and operated, delivery comprehensive, culturally competent, high -quality health care services in areas with limited access to affordable health care. 

Helps counties and other local entities provide a comprehensive range of mental health and substance use disorder services to vulnerable individuals. 

Discretionary funding from the CDC assists counties in making large annual investments in community health systems, which work to prepare and respond to existing and emerging public health crises. Counties support building and maintaining a robust public health infrastructure through federal investments. 

County governments fully or partially fund school districts in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Alaska. Even in states where county governments are not responsible for overseeing school districts, we share a tax base with those school districts and often provide complementary services to students through other county programs. Counties support the goal of free public education available to all children with disabilities and urges full federal funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act so that states and Local Education Agencies can meet the law’s requirements. 

County governments fully or partially fund school districts in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Alaska. Even in states where county governments are not responsible for overseeing school districts, we share a tax base with those school districts and often provide complementary services to students through other county programs. Counties urge the federal government to fully meet its commitment to fund Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which provides federal resources to high-poverty school districts.   

The county role in the post-secondary education sector varies, however counties are critical actors in administering programs and services that comprehensively address education and workforce development for underserved individuals. Pell provides need-based grants to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's degree. 

Ending the veteran suicide epidemic is a key county priority. VA Mental Health programs support general and specialty mental health services for treatment of the broad range of mental health conditions, the Veterans Crisis Line, suicide prevention outreach and more. 

In 29 states, counties fund County Veteran Service Officers (CVSOs) who help veterans access a range of service-connected federal benefits, including VA health care, housing and transition assistance programs. Operational funding for the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) supports the timely processing of benefits claims, directly impacting the ability of CVSOs to manage their caseloads. 

Counties support the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative program, which they can use to revitalize distressed public and HUD-assisted housing units in their communities. 

Counties strongly support the CDBG program, which provides increased opportunities for elected county officials to plan, implement and evaluate local community development and housing assistance programs. 

The HOME Investment Partnerships program builds upon the significant capacity and experience of county and other local and state governments to design and implement affordable housing programs for low and moderate-income persons. 

Program Description/Platform Language: Counties support full funding of federal homeless assistance programs. 

Program Description/Platform Language: Counties support the expansion of the Section 8 voucher program in addition to full funding for existing Section 8 project-based and tenant-based contracts. 

Program Description/Platform Language: Counties support expanding the limit for project-based vouchers from 20 to 35 percent of a locality's allocation. 

Counties support full funding of ATIP and encourage Congress to develop and fund additional programs specifically focused on development of trail networks at the County and regional level. 

Counties can apply directly for AIP discretionary funds as airport sponsors.  

Counties believe Congress should continue to provide subsidies to Amtrak at a level consistent with maintaining a reasonable level of service and to provide necessary capital improvements with appropriate accountability controls. 

This program makes funding available to local public agencies and other eligible entities that operate fixed route bus service to replace, rehabilitate and purchase buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities. 

Counties are directly eligible for CIG grants that ensure the 78 percent of public transit systems directly supported by counties can carry out vital capital projects, including heavy rail, commuter rail, light rail, streetcars and bus rapid transit. 

Counties are eligible for CRISI grants, which fund capital projects to improve rail infrastructure and safety. 

small and isolated communities rely on EAS to ensure access to air service. Counties believe the federal government should continue subsidies for assisting airlines serving small communities and fully fund the EAS program. 

Program Description/Platform Language: Counties are eligible to apply for IPR grants, formerly known as State of Good Repair Grants, which fund capital projects that replace and rehabilitate rolling stock, track infrastructure, communication and security systems and maintain related equipment and facilities. 

Program Description/Platform Language: Under this competitive portion of the Urbanized Area Formula Grants Program (5307), USDOT makes discretionary grants to public transit systems that meet certain criteria, including serving an urbanized area with a population over 200,000. The geography of some counties makes it so residents must depend on ferry service for daily commutes and access to critical community services and institutions.  

Program Description/Platform Language: Counties support continued, sufficient, and guaranteed funding of SCASDP to meet the needs of small and rural communities to retain, expand, and/or attract air service. 

Program Description/Platform Language: Local public agencies are eligible for funding under the Low-No Program, which is designed to support the transition of the nation’s transit fleet to the lowest polluting and most energy efficient transit vehicles. 

Program Description/Platform Language: Annually, counties invest over $550 million in the operation, maintenance and support of sea and inland port facilities. The PIDP assists counties with coastal and inland ports to improve port facilities and construct critical infrastructure that fosters economic benefits for all levels of government. 

*NOTE: In addition to $70.460 billion in PIDP earmarks, the total for FY 2024 is $120.46 million; PIDP funds were not earmarked in FY 2023 

Program Description/Platform Language: The PROTECT program provides competitive grants that counties can apply for directly through USDOT to carry out projects that enhance resilience, improve evacuation routes and ensure continuity of operations and/or the rapid recovery of communities where a natural disaster has occurred. 

Program Description/Platform Language: The PROTECT program provides competitive grants that counties can apply for directly through USDOT to carry out projects that enhance resilience, improve evacuation routes and ensure continuity of operations and/or the rapid recovery of communities where a natural disaster has occurred. 

Program Description/Platform Language: Through this program, USDOT can make grants and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with counties and other eligible entities for research and development, demonstration and deployments projects deemed to be of national significance to public transportation. 

Program Description/Platform Language: Counties own and maintain 44 percent of America's public roads miles and 38 percent of the National Bridge Inventory. To support these roads and the safety of our residents and the many urban dwellers who travel our local roads each day, and to ensure efficient commerce, counties must rely on the intergovernmental partnership and flexible programs, like RAISE, to ensure the operability of these essential local connections. 

Program Description/Platform Language: The Thriving Communities Program allows USDOT to enter into cooperative agreements with counties to provide and implement technical assistance, planning and capacity building for projects designed to foster thriving communities through transportation improvements.