National Association of Counties

From Sunshine Review

The National Association of Counties (NACo) is the only national organization that represents county governments in the United States. Founded in 1935, NACo provides essential services to the nation’s 3,066 counties. NACo advances issues with a unified voice before the federal government, improves the public's understanding of county government, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research, and provides value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money.

NACo's membership totals more than 2,000 counties, representing over 80 percent of the nation's population.

NACo has 23 affiliate associations.

[edit] Purpose

With its headquarters on Capitol Hill, NACo is a full-service organization that provides an extensive line of services including legislative, research, technical, and public affairs assistance, as well as enterprise services to its members. The association acts as a liaison with other levels of government, works to improve public understanding of counties, serves as a national advocate for counties and provides them with resources to help them find innovative methods to meet the challenges they face. NACo is involved in a number of special projects that deal with such issues as homeland security, drug abuse and broader access to health care.

NACo understands the importance of strong public-private partnerships and is committed to assisting counties and businesses explore new, innovative ways of working together. Through the Enterprise Services Department, NACo offers county employees retirement, cooperative purchasing, debt collection, and county reinsurance programs. In addition businesses can participate in the NACo Corporate, Premier and Sponsorship Programs.

County officials and their staffs also participate through NACo's 23 affiliates. These organizations are composed of officials who share similar responsibilities, interests or knowledge areas. To keep county officials informed, NACo publishes a biweekly newspaper, County News, with circulation of 29,000, that focuses on issues and actions in Washington, D.C. and throughout the country.

NACo's committees, whose members include county officials from every region of the country, are charged on an annual basis with evaluating issues and policies. The policy development process leads to the publication of the American County Platform, which NACo uses as a guide to deliver county government's message to the Administration, Congress and the American public.

[edit] Budget and Funding

According to the NACo 2007-2008 Annual Report,^[1] NACO ended 2007 with surplus of $2.2 million. NACo’s consolidated financial operations ended the 2007 fiscal year with a net surplus of $2.2 million, exceeding the budget by $656,000. Revenue came in $683,000 above budget and was offset by slightly higher expenses. Revenue from NACo’s for profit subsidiaries increased 4 percent over 2006. In addition to providing valuable services to local government agencies these programs contributed almost $5 million to the NACo bottom line. During 2007 counties saved more than $25 million on $238 million in purchases through the U.S. Communities Purchasing program.

Grant funded programs continued to be a vital part of NACo’s operations as program expenditures increased 43 percent to almost $1.9 million. Grant funded programs provide grants to counties, educational programming for county officials and research on topics relevant to county officials.

Revenue from county and corporate membership exceeded $4.9 million as county membership hit 2,301 counties, an increase of 82 over 2006. This continued a membership growth trend that started in 1995, when NACo started the year with 1,704 counties as members. Net assets increased 12 percent over 2006, reaching $21.8 million. 2007 marks the 14th consecutive year with a net surplus.

• Financial Information Net Assets (beginning of year) $19,506,640
• Surplus $2,269,461
• Net Assets (December 31, 2007) $21,776,101

Net Assets (in $) From 1994 to 2007^[1]

1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
225,189	41,649	571,702	2,607,156	4,862,657	6,187,288	7,482,203	8,114,338	10,035,518	10,745,931	12,422,908	15,388,397	19,506,640	21,776,101

Sources of Revenue (NACo 2007-2008 Annual Report)^[1]

• NACoFS Corp: Royalties & Fees $8,567,102 40%
• Rental Income $447,334 2%
• County Programs/Services $1,065,785 5%
• Investments $1,778,324 8%
• Grants & Contracts $2,217,611 10%
• Conferences $2,556,798 12%
• Membership Dues $4,920,265 23%

Expenditures by Program, 2007-2008^[1]

Program	Amount $	% of total expenditures
NACoFS Corp	3,615,230	19
County Programs/Services	3,116,949	16
Legislative	2,726,823	14
Grants & Contracts	1,880,576	10
Conferences	1,837,489	10
Membership Development/Mkt	1,084,593	6
Rental Operations	179,863	1
Mgt & Admin	4,842,235	25

[edit] Income and Expenses

National Association of Counties

Year	Total Expenses	Total Income	Membership dues (included in Total Income)
2007[2]	$352,450	$370,347	$79,810
2006[3]	$373,353	$374,004	$79,645
2005[4]	$477,081	$404,361	$185,329

[edit] Current Legislation

S.323 A bill to provide infrastructure, nutrition, and housing assistance to rural areas of the United States. S.292 A bill to repeal the imposition of withholding on certain payments made to vendors by government entities. S.71 A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on telephone and other communications services. S.47 A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on telephone and other communication services. S.43 A bill to make the moratorium on Internet access taxes and multiple and discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce permanent. S.35 A bill to provide a permanent deduction for State and local general sales taxes.* S.23 A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the election to deduct State and local sales taxes.*

H.R.1105 Making omnibus appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes.* H.R.690 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to remove cell phones from listed property under section 280F.* H.R.503 To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit certain conduct relating to the use of horses for human consumption. H.R.379 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to ensure that all taxpayers have the ability to deduct State and local general sales taxes.* H.R.275 To repeal the imposition of 3 percent withholding on certain payments made to vendors by government entities.* H.R.105 To protect voting rights and to improve the administration of Federal elections, and for other purposes.* H.R.16 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the deduction of State and local general sales taxes.

[edit] Lobbying Initiatives

[edit] 2009 Key Legislative Priorities ^[5]

• Opposition to Unfunded Mandates/Preemptions: Vigilinence against legislation that mandates regulations on local government roles without adequate funding. The areas of concern are land use, rights of way and other local functions.
• Support Economic Stimulus and Revitalization/Increase financial partnership: Support passage of the stimulus package with funding for CDBG, HOME, JAG, Homeland Security, WIA, rural development, transportation, and water infrastructure development. Desire to have the a minimum of $4.1 billion for Community Development Block Grant formula program. They want to double the program over the next five years along with $2 billion for the HOME formula grant program.
• Health Reform: State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) should cover all children. They would like to ensure affordable health care for all Americans and repeal all CMS rules.
• Tax Issues: NACo opposes mandates in Section 511 of PL 109-222 which requires local governments to collect a 3% withholding tax for goods and services contracts. NACo opposes preemption of local government authority for telecommunications and other taxing. NACo supports maintaining the deductibility of state and local taxes and the interest earned on tax exempt bonds.
• Transportation/Aviation Reauthorization: NACo supports a guaranteed and well-funded Airport Improvement Program along with increased funding for the Essential Air Service and the Small Communities Air Service Programs. NACo also supports a well funded bridges, highways, mass transit assistance for rural roads and local infrastructure program. NACo supports fully funding the Highway Trust Fund.
• Energy Issues: NACo supports full funding for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program which should include incentives for the research and development in alternatives, renewable, and energy efficient technologies.

[edit] Affiliates

IAEM - International Association of Emergency Managers IAFC - International Association of Fire Chiefs NACA - County Administrators NACAP - County Aging Programs NACBHDD - Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors NACCA - County Civil Attorneys NACCED - County Community & Economic Development NACCHO - County and City Health Officials NACCTFO - County Collectors, Treasurers & Finance Officers NACE - County Engineers NACHFA - County Health Facility Administrators NACHSA - County Human Services Administrators

NACIO - County Information Officers NACIRO - County Intergovernmental Relation Officials NACITE - County Information Technology Executives NACP - County Planners NACPRO - County Park and Recreation Officials NACRC - County Recorders, Election Officials, and Clerks NACS - County Surveyors NALBOH - Local Boards of Health NAVPLG - Volunteer Programs in Local Governments NCCAE - County Association Executives NWA - National Workforce Association

[edit] Caucus Affiliates

NABCO - Black County Officials NAC - Native American Caucus NAHCO - Hispanic County Officials NCRCO - Republican County Officials NDCO - Democratic County Officials NOBCO - Black County Officials WON - Women of NACo Leadership Network

[edit] State chapters

See National Association of Counties members list

[edit] External links

• National Association of Counties official website
• Issues and Legislation page on official website
• Large Urban County Caucus Lobbying Priorities

[edit] References

	v • d • e Lists of taxpayer-funded lobbying associations
By type	Cities • Counties • Schools • Police • Universities
By state	Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming •