CALL TO ACTION ALERT
State legislators are likely to decide in the next few days how to appropriate additional CARES Act relief funds they placed in reserve for local governments. Please contact our legislators now to urge them to treat cities and towns equitably by providing the $150 million in the CARES Act local government reserve fund DIRECTLY to municipalities! Mention that Brunswick County received $2.57 million of the initial CARES Act funding and is making distributions to municipalities in the same manner that sales tax is distributed, i.e., per capita. This means that of the $846,000 to be distributed to municipalities, Holden Beach will receive ONLY $8,000.
Other points to make are:
- Cities are the builders of infrastructure that private industry depends on. When cities are forced to cut spending, economic recovery of the state will be delayed. Future growth will be delayed.
- Municipalities are the primary providers of water and sewer service to North Carolinians. Those utility funds are suffering due to bill non-payments, even though fixed costs must be paid.
- Cities and towns are frontline providers of first responders, who have been crucial in responding to the COVID-19 crisis.
In order for North Carolina to emerge strong from the economic effects of COVID-19, the financial health of cities and towns is crucial. Contact our legislators now to let them know that providing equitable assistance to municipalities is a critical part of the state’s economic recovery.
Click here for Representative Frank Iler’s contact information.
Click here for Senator Bill Rabon’s contact information.