Commissioner Miller Advocates For Federal Grants

Lincoln County Commissioner Casey Miller submitted individual comments today to the White House Office of Management and Budget, (OMB) concerning its proposed government-wide rewrite of federal grant regulations. "Lincoln County should not be left to absorb the harm and uncertainty created by changing federal policies. I will continue to advocate for our residents, local governments, nonprofits, and service providers—and insist that federal decisions protect, rather than destabilize, the essential services our community relies on." Miller said. 

The proposed changes could affect how counties apply for, administer and rely upon federal funding for public health, behavioral health, emergency management, transportation, housing, infrastructure, public safety and other essential services. The proposal would also change federal authority to review, suspend or terminate certain awards and would expand requirements affecting county facilities, subrecipients and grant administration.

Miller’s comments support strong accountability, transparency and responsible stewardship of taxpayer funds while asking OMB to provide clearer standards, meaningful due-process protections, reasonable implementation time and requirements proportionate to the resources and risks faced by rural counties.

“Federal accountability and dependable local service delivery should reinforce one another,” Miller said. “Counties need clear rules that protect taxpayer funds without unexpectedly interrupting essential services, shifting federal costs to local residents or imposing requirements beyond the federally funded activity.” Miller submitted the comments in his individual capacity as an elected Lincoln County commissioner. The comments do not represent a formal position adopted by the full Lincoln County Board of Commissioners.

WHAT FEDERAL PROGRAMS ARE IMPACTED BY THIS PROPOSED RULE?

This rule affects every county that receives, administers, or passes through federal grant funding

• Every federal grant, cooperative agreement and pass-through award received by counties

• Competitive grants for transportation, housing, public safety and economic development

• Formula grants and block grants (Subject to all new policy conditions except from termination provisions)

• Disaster recovery grants (Subject to all new policy conditions except from termination provisions)

• Subawards and pass-through funding counties distribute to nonprofits and other subrecipients

• County-operated health, workforce, housing and human services programs

• County health departments administering public health grants affected by new content prohibitions 

• Counties in border regions or with international partnerships on water, infrastructure, or public safety

• Any county-controlled public facility or property where the county receives federal funds