{"id":34293,"date":"2020-04-28T10:22:18","date_gmt":"2020-04-28T14:22:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/?p=34293"},"modified":"2020-04-28T10:22:18","modified_gmt":"2020-04-28T14:22:18","slug":"ny-counties-urge-congress-to-include-local-government-aid-in-phase-4-of-covid-19-stimulus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/ny-counties-urge-congress-to-include-local-government-aid-in-phase-4-of-covid-19-stimulus\/","title":{"rendered":"NY Counties Urge Congress to Include Local Government Aid in Phase 4 of COVID-19 Stimulus"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>ALBANY – The New York State Division of Budget<\/strong><\/a> said in a recent report<\/a> that shortfalls resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic could result in cuts of up to 50 percent in aid to local governments. In response to the report, the New York State Association of Counties<\/strong> (NYSAC) is calling on the federal government to provide direct support to counties as congressional leaders begin negotiations for a fourth COVID-19<\/strong> stimulus package.<\/p>\n

According to the Division of Budget\u2019s Summary, “The scope and depth of the reductions to local aid programs needed to balance the FY 2021 Budget have no precedent in modern times. In the absence of Federal aid, nearly every activity funded by state government in the aid to localities budget … will face steep cuts.”<\/p>\n

These cuts are expected as the COVID-19 pandemic is spiking demand for social services such as TANF, HEAP, child support, child welfare services and adult protective services.<\/p>\n

“Local governments are teetering on the edge of a fiscal cliff as demands for services rise and economic activity is at a standstill. Counties are the foot soldiers in the war against COVID-19, and without direct federal support, they\u2019ll be running out of the resources necessary to continue the fight,” said NYSAC President John F. Marren<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Early estimates project revenues from local sales, which are the lifeblood of local government, are falling off a cliff. Initial projections from the most recent data available show severe declines in retail activity, including:<\/p>\n