AML Municipal Matters

I’m in DC and have been attending the National Association of Counties legislative conference. NACo is part of the intergovernmental relationship that exists between counties and the federal government.

While much of the conference reflects the uncertainty of new executive orders, a funding freeze, and firing sprees, there’s also a thread of optimism from those hoping to develop or manage lands and resources. This optimism is mostly coming from Western states and rural counties. We’ve heard the same in Alaska, of course, that with this new administration Alaska will be open for business.

I’d love to come home with a strategic approach to getting there, so I’m thinking about it in terms of the many kinds of communities that we work with, and what they’ll need to be successful. What does a path to prosperity look like for each, and how can federal agencies facilitate wealth-building:

• Defense Communities – These are generally understood as communities with military or coast guard assets, who are mainly affected by contraction or growth, and where the action is often to ensure that adequate amenities exist – education, housing, power, utilities, transportation, etc.
• Gateway Communities – These communities are the heart of our travel and tourism industry, where visitors come to access federal parks. The action for communities is often to ensure that the character of the community is maintained, and not overwhelmed by tourists, even as local governments are responsible for the surrounding infrastructure, and often EMS, waste, etc. NPS is particularly important, with sufficient staffing to manage park access.
• Oil, Gas, and Mining Communities – Communities have a role in making sure their land use and natural resource plans are up to date, and that they can actively participate in planning and environmental review processes, while the administration is continuing previous efforts to improve permitting. There’s a renewed call for expedited NEPA processes.
• Fishing Communities – This industry relies on NOAA and NMFS, among others, and especially on data-driven decision-making and science to be sustainable. Communities provide power, housing, ports and harbors, access to facilities, etc. The Alaska Seafood Task Force may weigh federal considerations as they tackle recommendations.
• Timber Communities – A recent executive order emphasizes the need to open this up; what I’ve heard here is that what most communities need is new sawmills, since that industry has deteriorated so much over the years. There’s really a need for a cash infusion to be successful.

In the coming weeks and months, AML will facilitate conversations within these groups of communities to make sure that we can offer solutions and productive approaches for our members, building on their expertise and experiences.

Yes, we remain concerned about the impact of many other federal actions. Last week’s EO directing agencies to cancel grants and contracts has the potential to impact AML and its members directly. This would weaken our ability to build capacity, offer technical assistance, and support local governments in their planning and implementation. For members, it will mean putting off projects that are desperately needed. Layoffs continue to have an outsized impact in Alaska’s small communities. Of course, the upcoming budget battle will have serious consequences for Alaska, depending on the outcomes. We’re actively monitoring all of this, and conveying to the White House and our Congressional delegation the impacts that we know of.

It remains to be seen how these things balance out. Will the effects of some decisions thwart the potential for progress? How will our economy respond to different inputs or lack thereof? I don’t know. But AML’s role remains the same, to help our members navigate through this as best we can, together.

I know that these issues are weighing on our Legislature. The impact of budget discussions and new legislation will have to be viewed through a lens that includes federal action and inaction, change, opportunity, and challenge. We’ll look to you for alignment in some areas, and filling gaps in others. Alaska communities continue to depend on the State for stability and certainty, even as we all work more toward self-reliance.

I always come back from DC rejuvenated, or at least reinspired by the legacy left to us by America’s founders. I’m also reminded that we have so much left to do, to realize their vision.