MACo in NACo

"The conference focuses on the public lands and other issues critical to the western region of the United States (15 western states) by providing county officials with the opportunity to hear speakers, discuss legislation, network with other officials and share ideas and information."

Agriculture and Rural Affairs committee meetings were held on Sunday, March 4, 2012, beginning with the Agriculture Subcommittee.  This committee held a joint meeting with two subcommittees of the Health Steering Committee – the Health Disparities Subcommittee and the Public Health and Healthy Communities Subcommittee.  The discussion of both committees centered on two resolutions that support local and regional farm and food systems.  Following discussion of the resolutions, both committees offered support for them.

Tyler Hamman, staff to the House Natural Resources Committee reminded us all that Secure Rural Schools authorization ends September 30 of this year.  He told us that there are (different) bills in the House and the Senate.  The House (Representatives Bishop and Hastings) proposal seems intent on generating resource recovery revenues for the Treasury and counties.  The House bill would also authorize full funding of PILT for 5 years.  It provides a formula that averages harvest levels from 1980-1999, multiplies that average by 60% and sends 65% of that to counties. One concern raised was the loss of infrastructure to produce products.  The Senate (Senators Murkowski and Bingaman) is proposing another 5 year extension.

Recently I attended my first NACo conference on your behalf and I would like to thank you for opportunity to serve you in this role.  I am a member of the NACo Telecommunications and Technology Committee Steering Committee and also attended the IT standing Committee, the Essential Technologies Sub Committee and a day long Technology Symposium.

The Environment, Energy, and Land Use (EELU) Committee began its work Saturday March 3rd at 10:00 AM with presentations by the sponsors of 6 new resolutions dealing with varied issues from limited liability for environmental cleanup to energy storage, support for the Keystone Pipeline, Gulf Coast cleanup, opposing UN Agenda 21, and land use around military bases. These resolutions were discussed and recommendations for amendments were proposed. The resolutions would be voted on Sunday afternoon before the full EELU Committee.

As a member of the Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, our subcommittee meetings occurred on Saturday March 3, commencing with the Reservations Subcommittee. New Chair Woman, Lena Fowler, set the tone of the sub-committee by asking the group of development in their individual states on how counties and tribes are acting in a positive manner.

Since returning from the NACo Legislative Conference and reading the mountain of information gathered, it is obvious the one message we heard over and over again is, “there will be cuts, cuts, and more cuts.”  Each and every speaker reiterated the same theme leaving us with no doubts that services will be cut, and budgeting will be difficult for everyone during this recession.