December 2, 2021

The National Special Districts Coalition (NSDC), a coalition of state associations representing special districts providing essential public services in thousands of communities across the country, were pleased to meet with Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming offices in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate last month. Notably, NSDC Members had the honor of speaking with Wyoming Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis.

Coalition members provided important background on the wide-ranging services special districts provide constituents in the more than 30,000 communities they serve across the country. They also advanced the Coalition’s federal priorities and will continue to serve as a resource in Congress for current and future policy matters that impact local governments.

Coalition members advocated for equitable access to critical programs available to other units of local governments. Currently, far too many districts face barriers to access American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to respond to the public health and economic hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. NSDC members pushed to establish a formal definition for “special district” in federal law to ensure districts have clear access to applicable federal programs.

Additionally, the Coalition championed greater federal support for climate resiliency, disaster preparedness, infrastructure investments and finance tools, and services for disadvantaged communities.

The National Special Districts Coalition is the only national organization representing and advocating for all special districts at a national level. Organized in 2018, the Coalition consists of special districts’ stakeholders providing services for and representing special districts across the country. Members share resources, best practices and openly network to identify solutions to common problems for special districts across state lines. The Coalition’s mission includes federal advocacy to ensure special districts receive equitable access to critical programs available to local governments.