This Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) weekly
News and Views
e-newsletter includes information about the Local CURE program and ISACo's comments on the proposed emergency rules for the program, reminds county officials about the National Association of Counties (NACo) Town Hall and Annual Business Meeting events, highlights legislation signed into law by the Governor, announces ISACo's
Counties Count!
social media campaign, references the extension of a census advisory panel, announces local transportation grant awards, provides a state revenue update from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA), links to a letter that includes ISACo's support for an increase to the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP), advertises an upcoming NACo webinar opportunity, announces the appointment of a new director for the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), spotlights ISACo corporate partner Nationwide and invites counties to join ISACo.
COUNTIES COUNT!
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DCEO Local CURE Support Program
ISACo's July 6
News and Views
e-newsletter (
linked here
) provided information about the Local CURE program.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) requested that ISACo share additional information with county officials about the program. This information is available
via this link.
ISACo appreciates our constructive relationship with DCEO.
ISACo Submits Comments On Local CURE Program Emergency Rules
On Wednesday, July 8, 2020, ISACo sent a letter to Governor JB Pritzker with requests for amendments to the emergency rules submitted concerning how the Local CURE program will operate. The letter (
linked here
) includes recommendations about how this vital program can be improved for counties.
ISACo continues to advocate for additional federal funding that can be used by counties to offset revenues lost as a result of the pandemic emergency response.
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NACo Town Hall and Annual Business Meeting
As a result of COVID-19, the National Association of Counties (NACo) will hold a virtual membership Town Hall on
Monday, July 13, 2020,
and a virtual Annual Business Meeting on
Monday, July 20, 2020.
These events are being held in lieu of the NACo Annual Conference.
All NACo members are invited to attend the virtual membership Town Hall meeting on Monday July 13 at 3 p.m. (CST) that will include the 2nd Vice Presidential candidate forum, an overview of proposed bylaws amendments, a status report on voting delegate credentials totals and a federal policy update.
The virtual NACo Annual Business Meeting will be held on Monday, July 20 at 1 p.m. (CST). The meeting will include the election for 2nd Vice President and other officers, consideration of bylaws amendments and other association business. Participation is completely free for all NACo members.
The 2020 NACo Annual Business Meeting and membership Town Hall are free events for all NACo members. If you had previously registered for the 2020 NACo Annual Conference and Exposition, no further action is required on your part. You will be automatically registered for both the Annual Business Meeting and membership Town Hall.
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Governor Takes Bill Action
The following bills were signed into law on Tuesday, July 7, 2020:
SB 2541 (P.A. 101-0650 -
linked here
) renews the Hospital Assessment Program and secures more than $250 million in additional federal funding to achieve a program with $3.8 billion in funding. This is more than the $450 million that was provided to hospitals in the last assessment four years ago. Effective immediately.
SB 1864 (P.A. 101-0649 -
linked here
) creates the Health Care Affordability Act to expand access to quality and affordable health care in response to health and economic inequities and challenges heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the legislation eliminates or loosens requirements on who can access Medicaid and helps families enroll and maintain coverage through the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the ALL KIDS Act. Effective immediately.
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ISACo Launching
Counties Count!
Social Media Campaign
Beginning Wednesday, July 15, 2020, ISACo will begin featuring member counties on our Facebook and Twitter feeds. Counties are essential to Illinoisans and ISACo is excited to highlight interesting facts and information about our valued members counties.
@Isacoil
@IsacoTweets
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Census Advisory Panel Extended
On Thursday, July 9, 2020, Governor JB Pritzker signed Executive Order (EO) 2020-46 (
linked here
) to extend the Census Advisory Panel as an advisory board through December 31, 2020.
The extension was necessary as a result of census operations being delayed by COVID-19.
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IDOT Awards Local Planning Grants
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) awarded 52 grants totaling more than $38 million to support the planning efforts of long-range transportation projects in Illinois.
New criteria this year provides funding to create economic opportunity and enhance quality of life in disadvantaged communities.
The grants are designed to advance the objectives of the Illinois Long-Range Transportation Plan. Criteria considered included plans that implement asset management strategies and performance-based planning programming as well as activities that grow and support economically distressed areas.
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COGFA State Revenue Update
The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) issued its revenue update for June and found that base general fund revenues increased by $208 million for the month. The growth was primarily the result of increased federal sources of revenue.
While base revenues were up in June, State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2020 base general fund revenues ended $1.135 billion below the prior year levels as a result of COVID-19.
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ISACo Supports FMAP Increase
ISACo joined a letter initiated by the "Big 7" group of national associations asking Congressional leaders to support an increase in the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for the Medicaid program in the next bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill.
More specifically, the letter calls for Congress to provide an additional FMAP increase of at least 5.8 percentage points, be retroactive to January 1, 2020, and remain until September 30, 2021, regardless of unemployment conditions. After September 30, 2021, the 12 percent FMAP increase (5.8% plus the current 6.2% increase) should not be reduced until the national unemployment rate falls below 5 percent. Additional FMAP increases should be determined based on the increase in a state’s unemployment rate.
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Upcoming NACo Webinar
The National Association of Counties (NACo) has announced the following upcoming webinar:
Contact Tracing and Testing: City-County-Corporate Collaborations
(Wednesday, July 15, 2020 from 1 pm – 2 pm CST)
The COVID-19 crisis has created an unprecedented need for cities, counties and the private sector to work in tandem to provide contact tracing and testing services in their jurisdictions. Resources and training might differ throughout the country; however, collaboration is vital for effective contact tracing and testing to protect the public’s health. In this session, hear from city, county and corporate leaders about their joint efforts to mitigate COVID transmission in their communities so that jurisdictions can safely reopen and people can participate in activities they enjoy. This webinar will also cover important considerations around vulnerable populations including people of color and hard-to-reach communities. The webinar is being offered by the National League of Cities (NLC).
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New IDES Director Appointed
On Thursday, July 9, Governor JB Pritzker announced that he has appointed Kristin Richards to serve as Director of The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). She is presently the Chief of Staff to Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park). The press release is
available via this link.
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Corporate Partner Spotlight
This week's corporate partner spotlight highlights ISACo's partnership with Nationwide.
Over the past 85 years, focusing on customers and valuing people have helped Nationwide become one of the largest insurance and financial services companies in the world.
Even though Nationwide has dozens of affiliated companies, people are its biggest resource – and its greatest asset in providing excellent customer service to its customers. That’s why its Supply Management Services group makes sure agents and associates get the best quality products and services, at the best possible cost. It’s also why Nationwide has an Office of Customer Advocacy.
Click on this link
to learn more about the benefits and opportunities available through ISACo's Corporate Partner Program.
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The Key to ISACo's Success is YOU!
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Is your county a member of ISACo? If not, why not?
ISACo is a statewide association whose mission is to empower county officials to provide excellent service to their residents.
ISACo member counties are comprised of forward-thinking public servants who recognize that the challenges confronting county governments require new and innovative ideas, collaborative solutions and collective advocacy at the state and federal levels of government.
Members of the association will benefit from education and training opportunities, peer-to-peer networking, shared resources and robust representation before policymakers at various levels of government. ISACo creates and connects county officials to these opportunities and successfully equips them to make counties ideal places to live, work and play.
If your county is interested in discussing membership in ISACo, please contact Executive Director Joe McCoy at (217) 679-3368 or jmccoy@isacoil.org. Thank you for your consideration.
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News and Views
is a service provided by ISACo for county officials and staff. Please feel welcome to share with interested parties. You can contact ISACo Executive Director Joe McCoy at jmccoy@isacoil.org or (217) 679-3368 if we can be of service. Thank you for your support of ISACo.
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