April 18, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sara Floor, Communications Manager
916-650-8119; email: sfloor@counties.org

SACRAMENTO – California State Association of Counties (CSAC) issues the following statement regarding the ongoing negotiations in Washington, D.C. about the interim emergency coronavirus relief package, or the COVID-19 3.5 supplemental package.

CSAC Executive Director Graham Knaus said:

“Much like firefighters don’t put off fighting a wildfire that’s already burning, California’s Counties acted swiftly to protect the public’s health from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“California’s counties appreciate the bipartisan leadership of our congressional delegation coming together on the CARES act. The increasing demands on critical safety net services counties provide coupled with rapidly declining revenues make our situation untenable without additional federal support. We applaud the leadership and tireless efforts of Speaker Pelosi and Governor Newsom to continue advocating for our state and local communities. It is imperative that our Federal leaders act with equal swiftness to provide direct financial relief to California Counties that will preserve essential public health and safety net services that are more needed than ever.

“We call upon the entire California Congressional delegation to again act in a unified manner to ensure our local and state governments can remain solvent while fighting this pandemic. Counties are at the front lines of California’s response to COVID-19, from public health departments leading community health efforts; to nurses, doctors, and paramedics leading the emergency medical response; to probation departments providing vital services to reentry and pre-trial populations; to sheriffs who protect public safety and health; to social workers securing hotel rooms for those experiencing homelessness and protecting vulnerable children and older adults; to eligibility workers who ensure that the millions of suddenly unemployed Californians can access the medical care, food assistance, and financial resources they need.

“California’s Counties will also be on the front lines of California’s economic recovery. The California safety net system is almost entirely delivered by counties and is under immense strain as we take all measures to support those impacted by COVID-19. It is vital that that federal emergency funding for the COVID-19 pandemic continues to flow to local governments, both directly and through the state.

“Drastic cuts to the very services that will stabilize communities and help fuel California’s economic recovery—public health, behavioral health and public assistance and support—will occur imminently without additional congressional relief.”

California State Association of Counties (CSAC) is the voice of California’s 58 counties at the state and federal level.                                                                               

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