Attachment 2 NLC 2024 Federal Advocacy Handout — Thousand Oaks City Council, March 26, 2024

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~ · America is Stroni Wij~n Local
Economies are Strong:'--~\~f
Local leaders are on the frontlines and leading
America's cities through some of the nation's
biggest challenges. NLC is a partner and
resource to municipalities nationwide in
building thriving and resilient communities.

TOP'J~9f ,A~JRJ~10 Rlili~ ISS~ES
FOR CITYr:LEADERS ; .. ~;~?~~f ""'- •' ~
WHO IS NLC?
The Notional l< ~d (:;)UU of Cilil:!~ i'.> d
nonpartisan membership association serving
as the voice of America's 19.000 cities. towns
and villages NLC is the leading advocate and
resource for local government. NLC works
with Congress and the Administration to
ensure partnership with local governments
and to emphasize the irnportance of local
voices in federr1I policy.

Budget &
Management

ABOUT NLC MEMBERSHIP
The National League of Cities represents
communities of all sizes - from small. rural
cornrn urutres and towns to the largest cities
and metropolitan suburbs.
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(@ Public Safety
Economic
Develop ment
75%
of NLCs membership 1s made up of
communities with populations of
5,00 0 and below
Housing
Source: \ _c ·s Slate of the Clites 2023 Report.
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NLC Membership by cpdJ:4J sional f.iJ}}Jiif.t
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State Municipal League Affilia tion L Less Than 20% ■
20% - 40%
■ 40% - 60% ■ 60% - 80% ■ Over 80%
What to Know About Local
Governments & Their Economies
Almost all local governments are requrreo to
balance their budgets every year. On average.
local leaders are conservative ,n spend•ng
committ ed to burldmo safety net funds and
drversrfyrr-o their yevenue sources vir 1!e
caprta'rzrnq on federal funding OPP O!'tu" ties.

Local governments embrace cautious
budgeting: This cautious approach 1n 2023
yielded increased reserves and I rmted spenoinq.
de""onstrat,ng that iocal go·verr rr,er ts •·e•Ta n
good stewards of o..bhc do tars
Local governments better able to weather
Inflatlon: Despite LI 1e d 1dller 1~e of 111 fldliun, in 2023 the average city experienced more than a
six percent increase in general fund revenues.

Now with inflation more manageable. cities are
reaping some benefits of lower inflation.

Federal aid had a positive Impact on city
budgets: Direct federal aid through the
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dt 1<.J LI 1e
B1part1san Infrastructure Law was among the
factors that had a posrttve impact on cities·
ability to balance their 2023 budqets
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NLC's Federal
Action Agenda
NLC is committ ed to raising the voice of local
leaders on federal policies and supporting federal
legislation that recognizes and strengthens the role
of a local-federal partnership. Our priorities, shaped
by NLC members, include working with Congress
and the Administration to:
/'..., INCREASE HOUSING SUPPLY
LnJ AND STABILITY
Support direct funding for local governments to
accelerate housing development including CDBG,
HOME, and the Housing Trust Fund.

Suppo rt housing stability programs for residents
in distress including Housing Choice Vouchers,
Emergency Solutions Grants Program, Rural
Housing Programs: and enact the Eviction Crisis
Act.

Make cities and towns of all sizes eligible for
capacity building, technical assistance, and
pre-development programs like the Thriving
Communities initiative and the "Yes In My
Backyard" competitive grant program.

Suppo rt grants and tax-credits for affordable and
public housing improvements including
cost-saving energy-efficiency improvements and
expanded access to broadband.

SUPPORT LOCAL ECONOMIC

GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY
• Support local priorities for Federal Aviation
Agency reauthorization including: bolster
compatible airport development programs, make
airport improvement funding sustainable.
embracing regional aviation innovation, and keep
up essential airport connections.

Support extension of the Affordable Connectivity
Program to ensure residents can maintain access
to affordable broadband services.
• Support local priorities in the Farm Bill
reauthorization, including for rural development,
local foods and nutrition and conservation
programs.
• Support reauthorization of the Economic
Development Administration, including funds for
pre-development grants.

Support reauthorization of the Brownfields
Pmg1·am to help redevelop properties and rnokc
land in communities usable.

Support communities that have been devastated
or impacted by natural disaster by advocating for
recovery funding to be more readily available and
easier to access.
!iss.:, MAKE GOVERNMENT WORK
--W- FOR ALL COMMUNITIES
Support legislation that ensures communities of
all population sizes can access and take
advantage of grants authorized by federal
legislation.

Support bipartisan efforts to push for legislation
that would ease the federal compliance burden
related to federal grants management and
compliance for cities, towns, and villages.

Suppo rt legislation that would build thP. capacity
of small, mid-sized. and rural and disadvantaged
comm unities through federal grant opportunities
for planning. pre-development and technical
assistance.
~ PREVENT FEDERAL OVERREACH
lilliiWO FLOCALGOVERNMENTS
• E;ngage in the rule making process with federal
agencies to ensure that a law that will impose an
unfunded mandate on cities, towns and villages
has the best possible outcome for municipalities.

Maintain stability of government operations by
protecting existing levels of federal funding
programs and opposing any legislative claw backs
to minimize drsruptrons 1n local governance and
advocate for federal funding for local programs
Protect local governments from unreasonable
liability by advocating for liability protection for
municipal drinking water. wastewater and
stormwater utilities. landfills and solid waste
facilities, airports and fire departments
Strengthen the intergovernmental partnership
between the federal government and
municipalities to ensure local authorities are
protected and avoid undue costs and burdens.

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BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUC TUR E LAW
Since passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, more than 1850 local governments have been awarded federal grants through the law. These funds have impacted more than 100 million residents across the country.

Top Discretionary Spending Categories
~ Midwest ■
Northeast/ Mid-Atlantic ■ South ■ West
Roads, Bridg es and
Major Projects 14.8% 35.5%
Public Transportation 7.3%
Airports and Federal
Aviation Admi nistration • mm! I 3.8%
I I
Clean Energy
and Power
Safety
Enviro nmental
Remediation
Electric Vehicles, cma
l.1% • · . , .. , 5.8% Buses and Ferries
Water [II 1.9%
RA~iliP-nce I 0.5%
Other
I

0.2%
I

0.2%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
Share of Budget
Check out the latest data at: www.nlc.org/ resource/ rebwlding-america-traci<ing-federa!-investment-in-local-infrastructure-proJects/

Thousand Oaks City CouncilMarch 26, 2024

Thousand Oaks City Council
March 26, 2024