Blogs

NSDC, Public Trust Advisors to Host Webinar: Strengthening Your Special District’s Investments in an Unpredictable Market

By Cole Karr posted 11 days ago
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The National Special Districts Coalition (NSDC) in partnership with Public Trust Advisors will host a March 30 webinar offering special districts insights as they navigate and strategize their municipal investments in a time of unpredictable market conditions.   Public Trust Advisors , a Platinum NSDC Affiliate Member, will provide NSDC Members the latest on market and economic conditions before offering best and taking questions. This 75-minute webinar will be live via Zoom on Thursday, March 30, beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. This event is offered at no cost to NSDC Members and their affiliated special districts and organizations.   ...
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National Coalition Readies Federal Push to Address Infrastructure Gaps for Fire Suppression, Seeks Additional Input

By Cole Karr posted 14 days ago
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The National Special Districts Coalition (NSDC) is prioritizing legislative action in the 118 th Congress to address community gaps in adequate water resources for firefighting and is seeking further input from local agencies providing these services on the experiences they have had in their communities on this topic.   Does your agency have insights to offer on the subject of adequate water infrastructure for firefighting in your community? Share your feedback here.   This effort began in 2022 following initial feedback from numerous special district stakeholders across the country providing fire protection and water services indicating ...
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NSDC to Host March Meeting of Maricopa County, Ariz., Special Districts

By Cole Karr posted 28 days ago
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The National Special Districts Coalition will host a summit of special districts delivering critical infrastructure and essential public services in the Phoenix Area for a program on common interests among the class of local governments in Maricopa County, Ariz. The Maricopa County Special Districts Meeting will be Wednesday, March 22, in Mesa, and will provide a unique forum for the county’s special district leaders to meet and discuss common needs and receive updates on topics of interest locally, in Arizona, and federally. Those in attendance will hear from their elected representatives’ offices, receive best practices from NSDC Affiliate Streamline ...
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EPA Announces $2B to Address Emerging Water Contaminants in Small, Disadvantaged Communities

By Cole Karr posted 02-14-2023
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $2 billion to address emerging contaminants in small and disadvantaged communities’ drinking water, including per- and poly- fluoroalkyl (PFAS). EPA made the announcement as it continues to review comments on its proposed rule to designate PFAS as a hazardous substance under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), and as the Agency readies for release of a proposed rule establishing a national drinking water standard for PFAS “in the coming weeks.” The $2 billion in funding will be made available later this year through the new Emerging Contaminants ...
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Coalition Welcomes Arizona and Washington Fire Districts

By Cole Karr posted 02-14-2023
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The National Special Districts Coalition (NSDC) welcomed in January 2023 the Arizona Fire Districts Association and the Washington Association of Fire Commissioners. Together, the two western fire district stakeholders add hundreds of special districts and thousands of elected officials’ voices to further strengthen the voice of special districts in Washington, D.C.  “Special districts are centerpiece fixtures of fire service in Arizona and Washington providing critical first emergency response and contributing to wildland firefighting efforts – many on a volunteer basis,” said Cole Arreola-Karr, NSDC Federal Advocacy Director. “NSDC warmly welcomes the Arizona ...
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NSDC Reviews 2022, Looks Forward to 2023 Action on Priorities

By Cole Karr posted 01-05-2023
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The National Special Districts Coalition (NSDC), the only national organization advocating for and elevating special districts’ voice in Washington, D.C., has hit the ground running in 2023 on its federal policy priorities, building on successes from 2022, and is making moves to grow the Coalition. Click here for NSDC’s 2022 Year In Review NSDC approved in December its Federal Advocacy Platform for the 118 th Congress, which serve as a guide to prioritize advocacy efforts. The Coalition will focus efforts on two major policy concerns for special districts: (1) better defining “special district” in federal law for enhanced access to federal programming ...
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NSDC Announces Trial Membership Program for 2023

By Cole Karr posted 01-03-2023
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The National Special Districts Coalition (NSDC) will open its membership and programs on a trial basis to organizations interested in joining the emerging Coalition of special districts stakeholders. Individual special districts (or other special purpose units of local government) and organizations that provide services to and/or represent special districts’ interests across states are invited to join NSDC on a risk-free, three-month trial period between February 1 and July 31, 2023.   Click Here for the 3-Month NSDC Trial Member Application   Special districts, associations, and other organizations joining for the 2023 NSDC Trial Membership ...
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Biden Signs NSDC-Supported Bills to Enhance Mitigation Support in Vulnerable Communities, Review Federal Response to Wildfire

By Cole Karr posted 12-20-2022
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President Joe Biden signed on Tuesday two bills NSDC has supported in the 117 th Congress that are aimed to boost federal support for disaster mitigation projects in the nation’s most vulnerable communities and directs a review of how federal agencies coordinate and respond to wildfire. Biden signed S. 3875 (Peters), the Community Disaster Resilience Zones (CDRZ) Act and the S. 3092 (Padilla), the FEMA, Improvement, Reform, and Efficiency (FIRE) Act, along with a series of other bills at the White House on December 20. NSDC supported both bipartisan bills throughout the legislative process. The Coalition was part of the CDRZ Act’s first ...
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NSDC Adopts Federal Priorities for 118th Congress, Enhances Focus on Fire Suppression Infrastructure, Parks, and Healthcare Needs

By Cole Karr posted 12-09-2022
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The National Special Districts Coalition (NSDC) has formally adopted the first biennial revision of its Federal Advocacy Platform, which will guide NSDC’s federal efforts and grassroots engagement through the 118 th Congress. NSDC based the document’s amendments on its inaugural platform approved in June 2021, preserving flagship priorities including ongoing efforts to better define “special district” in federal law for greater access to local government programs and resources. Revisions to the policy document were made in collaboration with NSDC Members and with expert feedback gleaned from the establishment of special districts policy advisory groups comprised ...
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Senate, House to Resolve Differences on NSDC-Supported FIRE Act

By Cole Karr posted 11-18-2022
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The House of Representative passed Thursday an amended version of a Coalition-supported bill to require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to review its fire mitigation, readiness, and disaster recovery programs. Senator Alex Padilla, D-Calif., sponsors   S. 3092 (Padilla), the FEMA Improvement, Reform, and Efficiency (FIRE) Act of 2022. The current bill maintains most of the supported provisions from its introduction. The bill addresses discrepancies in federal response before and after wildfire events. If passed, it would require FEMA to review its response to wildfire and further examine factors of fire in damage assessments. The National ...
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NSDC Calls for Clarity on Liability, Accounting of Costs Needed on EPA’s Proposed PFAS Regulation

By Cole Karr posted 11-07-2022
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The National Special Districts Coalition (NSDC) provided comment Monday on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule to designate two common forms per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as “forever chemicals,” as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). In its comment , the Coalition expressed clear concern of the proposed regulation’s potential significant costs on special districts should liability for contamination not be specified – especially among those providing water, wastewater treatment, and fire protection services. Furthermore, NSDC disagrees ...
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DelBene Meets with Special Districts Providing Critical Infrastructure in NW Washington

By Cole Karr posted 11-01-2022
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Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., met Tuesday with a roundtable of special districts providing critical infrastructure and essential services in Washington’s First Congressional District communities. The National Special Districts Coalition (NSDC) hosted the virtual event with DelBene’s constituent special districts providing drinking water, wastewater treatment, hospital, port, and broadband services, along with state association partners. Districts discussed legislative and policy issues impacting their ability to deliver quality public services. Of note, districts shared the need to better define “special district” in federal law to break down barriers ...
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Bill to Enhance Federal Cybersecurity Resources for State, Local Governments Signed into Law

By Cole Karr posted 10-31-2022
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Legislation to solidify collaboration among Federal cyber agencies and enhance their collaboration on cybersecurity measures with state and local government is now law. President Joe Biden signed S. 2520 (Peters), the State and Local Cybersecurity Act of 2021 , ( PL 117-150 ), which codifies communication between the Cybersecurity Infrastructure and Security Agency (CISA) and official organizations, such as the Multi-State Information Sharing Analysis Center , that exist to enhance state and local governments’ cybersecurity capacity. CISA already consistently works directly with state and local governments as well agencies providing cyber assistance to ...
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Concerned of Cost Burdens, NSDC Opposes Push to Standardize Financial Reporting Requirements

By Cole Karr posted 10-24-2022
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The National Special Districts Coalition (NSDC) opposes federal legislation that would standardize local agencies’ federal financial reporting requirements, potentially posing an unnecessary, costly mandate on local agencies issuing bonds and holding investments. NSDC is especially concerned about efforts to include S. 4295 (Warner), the Financial Data Transparency Act , in the must-pass Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Of specific concern is Section 203 of the bill. If successfully attached as part of the NDAA or passed on a stand-alone basis, Section 203 would require the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) ...
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Special Districts Encouraged to Complete Upcoming Census of Local Government Count

By Cole Karr posted 10-19-2022
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The National Special Districts Coalition (NSDC) encourages all special districts to participate in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments. Completion of this survey provides critical insights to local governments that help advance advocacy and awareness for nation’s special districts. As part of this important study of local governments: states, counties, cities, townships, special districts, and school districts will receive in early November a Census Bureau questionnaire regarding their organizational and financial measurements. The Bureau administers this survey every five years, as it is required to do so by federal law. The collected information ...
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What Districts Need to Know: State, Local, Cybersecurity Grant Program

By Cole Karr posted 10-05-2022
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Federal cyber and emergency management agencies have announced the first opening of the $1 billion State, Local, and Cybersecurity Grant Program. The notice of funding opportunity outlines that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will administer the grant with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) providing expert guidance. The program is the first of its kind and was established under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). States, territories, and tribal governments will submit to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requests for funding under the program by November 15, 2022. Grantees are required to submit ...
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National Special Districts Coalition (NSDC) Names Federal Advocacy Director

By Cole Karr posted 10-03-2022
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The National Special Districts Coalition (NSDC) has announced its selection to oversee Coalition advancement, grassroots engagement, and federal advocacy actions in a full-time capacity. Cole Arreola-Karr, NSDC’s previously parttime Federal Advocacy Coordinator, filled the newly established Federal Advocacy Director role on October 1, 2022, to administer Coalition activities and ensure NSDC’s federal priorities are executed. He has coordinated the Coalition’s federal advocacy program since its formal establishment in January 2021 and will now play an even greater role in providing services and oversight of the advocacy program on a 27-month contract doing business ...
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Public Trust Advisors Partners with National Special Districts Coalition

By Cole Karr posted 09-29-2022
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Public Trust Advisors, LLC (Public Trust), an investment advisory firm dedicated to servicing public sector investors nationwide, recently became a platinum-level partner with the National Special Districts Coalition in support of mutual efforts to strengthen and advance special districts across the country. Providing services to more than 1,500 special districts and thousands of additional public agencies, Public Trust Advisors specializes in high-quality, low-cost local government investment pool services and provides client-centered account management to assist public agencies in meeting the objectives of safety and liquidity while striving to earn a competitive ...
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NSDC Marks Success with First Advocacy Fly-In to Capitol Hill

By Cole Karr posted 09-26-2022
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The National Special Districts Coalition (NSDC) completed its first formal advocacy fly-in to Washington, DC, to engage on priority federal issues facing the nation’s 35,000+ special districts. Regular members seated on the NSDC Legislative Committee met with Congressional and Senate offices to share the importance of defining special districts in federal code, promote awareness of essential public services special districts provide to constituents, and begin laying groundwork on efforts to close community gaps in adequate fire suppression infrastructure . “NSDC’s first fly-in is not only significant for our growing Coalition, but it is also a historic success ...
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National Districts Coalition Urges Senate Action on Major Drought, Wildfire Legislation

By Cole Karr posted 09-14-2022
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The National Special Districts Coalition (NSDC) on Wednesday urged the U.S. Senate to expeditiously consider House-passed legislation crafted in response to worsening drought and wildfire conditions in the West. The House passed, 218-199 , prior to leaving for its August recess H.R. 5118 (Neguse/D-Colo.), the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act . The omnibus-style bill was amended to include more than 40 stand-alone bills to address the crises. In a letter sent Wednesday to Senate Majority Leaders Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., NSDC underscored the necessity of swift action as special districts ...
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