On alternating weeks, NACo's Resource Roundup highlights opportunities, reports, upcoming events and other tools, and the County Countdown provides a review of key policy items for county leaders.
By popular request, the insights from NACo's First 100 Days series will continue! Join the Government Affairs team every other week for Inside Washington, a webinar series on key developments from the White House and Congress. Tune in for an inside look at how evolving federal dynamics could shape county priorities, responsibilities and operations.
What to expect: Discussions will focus on policies and actions that directly impact counties — from federal funding and regulatory changes to intergovernmental partnerships.
Register now: The series will begin this Thursday, May 15, at 3:30 p.m. EDT. Click here to register.
Counties play a pivotal role in building and maintaining our nation’s infrastructure. We own 44% of public road miles and 38% of bridges and play a key role in operating public transit systems, airports and seaports.
Hill advocacy: Read the letters sent by NACo and our partner coalitions to the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure regarding priorities for the next surface transportation reauthorization bill.
Counties across the nation are participating in Mental Health Awareness Month. Throughout May, county governments will showcase innovations in behavioral health services and focus on key policy advancements.
Advocate for policy priorities: In the second half of the month, NACo will shift focus from best practices to policy advocacy that drives systemic change, including strengthening federal partnerships and improving access to community-based care.
Access the toolkit: NACo’s participation toolkit includes shareable graphics, template letters, talking points and sample social media posts to support engagement. As always, make these resources your own and let us know what you do to recognize Mental Health Awareness Month.
Background: 62% of counties contain federally owned land — land that’s exempt from property taxes but still requires counties to provide essential services to both residents and visitors.
Growth vs. decline: The report indicates that while some public lands counties experience economic growth, others face stagnation, especially those in rural or high-share public land counties.
Common thread: Regardless of land share or economic trend, all public lands counties struggle with resource gaps that strain their ability to meet growing demands.
In the face of inflation, rising interest rates and federal regulatory shifts, counties can take control of one powerful lever: how they manage liquidity.
Local control: Effective liquidity management helps close budget gaps without relying on outside funding or raising taxes.
Beyond cash flow: While cash flow tracks short-term needs, liquidity management looks deeper — unlocking new, often hidden, revenue streams.
Big returns: Thoughtful strategies can generate hundreds of thousands to millions in annual revenue, offering stability in uncertain times. Click here to learn how cashVest by NACo partner three+one can help.
