The National Association of Counties (NACo) today responded to President Trump’s infrastructure plan and underscored counties’ role in not only connecting people and places, but also increasing our global competitiveness.
“We welcome President Trump’s focus on upgrading our nation’s infrastructure,” said NACo Executive Director Matthew Chase. “We must work together to achieve long-overdue infrastructure improvements.”
“Counties are using every tool at our disposal to deliver infrastructure projects to our residents,” Chase continued. “Despite strict constraints on our ability to generate revenue and an ever-growing list of federal and state unfunded mandates, we invest significantly in infrastructure. We also leverage innovative financing and private-sector partnerships to meet our communities’ infrastructure needs.”
Counties invest more than $122 billion in infrastructure and public works annually. Counties build and maintain the largest share of public road miles – 46 percent – and 38 percent of America’s bridges. Counties are also involved in a third of the nation’s airports and support 78 percent of all public transportation systems. Additionally, counties construct water and sewer systems, hospitals, libraries and other public facilities and public safety communications networks.
“To build upon our efforts, we need a reliable federal partner to invest in our communities and streamline processes that inhibit our efficiency,” Chase concluded. “Transformational improvements to America’s infrastructure have always been the result of a strong federal-state-local partnership. We stand ready to work with the administration and Congress – along with other public, private and nonprofit sector allies – to reinvest in our communities.”
Feb. 12, 2018