American City & County survey highlights local spending priorities, challenges of infrastructure bill

Across cultures and nations, the new year traditionally signifies an opportunity for self-reflection, and brings with it a chance to change and evolve. Gym memberships surge as resolutions are set and new courses are charted. But with familiar stay-at-home-advisories emerging once again, as the omicron variant surges, it’s difficult to get excited about 2022.  

More than 800,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 so far, and the physical and societal toll that’s been inflicted as a result is profound. Prolonged social isolation, a byproduct of containment measures, has thrown many into a mental health crisis. Small businesses across the nation are staggering from the pandemic’s economic blow—if they even survived. In responding to these needs, local administrators will face familiar coronavirus-related challenges come January, and they’ll undoubtedly rise to the occasion once again.  

If there’s a positive take-away from 2021 to carry into the new year, it’s that local governments remain resilient—sometimes against all odds. And amid this difficult era, there’s a spark of hope for local governments: following the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill in November, administrators will begin 2022 with money to spend. 

The spending package “marks a historic win for communities,” said Brittney Kohler, legislative director for transportation and infrastructure at the National League of Cities. Besides the $1.2 trillion that’s poised for investment into American infrastructure—from roadways to broadband, water systems to cybersecurity—the legislation represents a fundamental shift in the way the federal government disseminates dollars. “It is truly is an opportunity where, rather than having to go through their state to receive funds, we’ve seen a tremendous shift in congress saying ‘cities, you’re eligible, go after this funding.’” 

Ahead of this once-in-a-century investment in broadband, water and sewer, roadways and bridges, American City & County conducted a survey of more than 120 local leaders to better understand spending priorities. Notably, more than half said they manage communities with a population under 50,000, and about 10 percent hail from regions with more than 1 million people. 

Respondents ranked repairing roads and bridges their highest priority, followed by fixing or replacing outdated water systems, upgrading cybersecurity measures (an emerging trend in local government), investing in public safety, building out broadband infrastructure and increasing resiliency. Likewise, nearly half reported an intention to spend at least part of their allotments on repairing deteriorating roadways and bridges; about 45 percent said they intend to replace lead water pipes; a little less than 35 percent prioritized expanding broadband; less than 30 percent prioritized climate or green initiatives; and the same amount plan to direct funding to transportation needs. 

To read the complete article, visit American City & County.