Congresswoman Angie Craig Is Joined By 47 Second District Local Elected Officials In Push For COVID-19 Relief For Small and Mid-sized Towns, Cities and Counties

Today, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig announced the urgent push from 46 Mayors and County Commissioners from Inver Grove Heights to Belle Plaine across the Second District for direct funding to local governments to be included in the next CARES legislative package.

"Every community across Minnesota's Second Congressional District was left out of direct funding in the original CARES Act due to a flawed formula that I have been working tirelessly to fix," said Rep. Angie Craig. "I've talked with numerous mayors and county commissioners across the Second District and it's clear that we've got to do everything we can to make sure our small and mid-sized towns, cities and counties get direct support from the federal government as the demands on their essential services dramatically increase."

Rep. Craig has pushed leadership to include direct funding for suburbs and rural communities prior to the enactment of the CARES Act. Additionally, she introduced the Small Cities and Towns Investment Act, which if passed would bring much-needed resources to communities across the Second District with targeted USDA Rural Development funding.

"Our first responders and communities have stepped up in incredible ways since the onset of this pandemic. Our citizens have shown their generosity to one another in countless ways, and many have been working on the front line as essential health workers in the fight against COVID-19. But at the same time, our government institutions have been pushed to the brink. As we have expanded our health, education and first responder capabilities to match novel needs, our revenue from local taxes and fees has dropped precipitously," the Local Elected Officials wrote.

You can view the full letter below.

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, Leader McConnell, and Leader Schumer:

As Mayors, County Commissioners and other local government officials from Minnesota's Second Congressional District, we write to you today to ask that you include critical aid to local governments in the next COVID-19 relief package. The new Coronavirus has had a tremendous impact on our local budgets as we deploy resources to fight the pandemic while at the same time we face an unparalleled reduction in revenues.

Our first responders and communities have stepped up in incredible ways since the onset of this pandemic. Our citizens have shown their generosity to one another in countless ways, and many have been working on the front line as essential health workers in the fight against COVID-19. But at the same time, our government institutions have been pushed to the brink. As we have expanded our health, education and first responder capabilities to match novel needs, our revenue from local taxes and fees has dropped precipitously.

Our localities are diverse in our character and specific needs during this crisis, but one thing we have in common is that none of us meet the population threshold of 500,000 required under the CARES Act to receive direct aid. Small and mid-sized towns, cities and counties must be included if we are going to continue delivering essential services to our residents. Without this aid, we will have to make drastic reductions in essential services and furlough local staff, which will exacerbate our already deepening local economic crises.

With your help, we can prevent the crisis from getting worse. We urge you to look to H.R.6467, the Coronavirus Community Relief Act, as a guide as you consider aid to local governments. This bipartisan bill provides $250 billion in targeted aid for communities with populations under 500,000. Without your support for this proposal or others like it, our communities will find it increasingly difficult to slow the spread of COVID-19 and to implement responsible economic recovery initiatives.

Please give strong consideration to H.R. 6467 or similar legislation to help small and mid-sized towns, cities and counties across the country prevent further economic and social destruction during this precarious time.

Sincerely,

Mayor Mary Hamann-Roland, Apple Valley

Mayor Chris Meyer, Belle Plaine

Mayor Elizabeth Kautz, Burnsville

Mayor John Althoff, Cannon Falls

Mayor Myron Bailey, Cottage Grove

Commissioner Joe Atkins, Dakota County

Commissioner Mike Slavik, Dakota County

Commissioner Liz Workman, Dakota County

Mayor Mike Maguire, Eagan

Mayor Joe Julius, Elko New Market

Mayor Todd Larson, Farmington

Commissioner Brad Anderson, Goodhue County

Commissioner Paul Drotos, Goodhue County

Commissioner Linda Flanders, Goodhue County

Mayor Mary Fasbender, Hastings

Mayor John Knetter, Hampton

Mayor George Tourville, Inver Grove Heights

Mayor Doug Henke, Kenyon

Mayor Mark Nichols, Lake City

Mayor Doug Anderson, Lakeville

Mayor John Betcher, Mazeppa

Mayor Chuck Nickolay, New Prague

Mayor Rhonda Pownell, Northfield

Mayor Rod Steele, Pine Island

Mayor Kirt Briggs, Prior Lake

Mayor Sean Dowse, Red Wing

Commissioner Jeff Docken, Rice County

Commissioner Jake Gillen, Rice County

Mayor Bill Droste, Rosemount

Mayor Sandi Dingle, Saint Paul Park

Mayor Janet Williams, Savage

Commissioner Dave Beer, Scott County

Commissioner Jon Ulrich, Scott County

Commissioner Barb Weckman Brekke, Scott County

Mayor Bill Mars, Shakopee

Mayor Jimmy Francis, South St. Paul

Mayor Emily Durand, Wabasha

Commissioner Brian Goihl, Wabasha County

Commissioner Rich Hall, Wabasha County

Commissioner Cheryl Key, Wabasha County

Commissioner Don Springer, Wabasha County

Commissioner Mike Wobbe, Wabasha County

Mayor Ryan Holmes, Wanamingo

Commissioner Wayne Johnson, Washington County

Mayor Dave Napier, West St. Paul

Mayor Brad Drenckhahn, Zumbrota

Mayor Roger Ziebell, Plainview