By Larry Jones
March 3, 2003

Dallas County Commissioner and National Association of Counties President Ken Mayfield announced at a Washington press conference on February 26 that county commissioners from across the nation will consider adopting a call to action plan urging Congress to provide fiscal relief to states and localities. With 72 percent of the nation's counties facing budget shortfalls like most states, county officials are gathering in Washington, D.C. for their annual legislative Conference, February 28 — March 4, where they will be expected to adopt policy urging Congress to:

• immediately pass an economic growth package to stimulate the economy that provides significant aid to state and local governments;
• immediately pass legislation authorizing states to require retailers in other states to collect and remit sales and use taxes on remote sales. State and local governments will lose an estimated $45 billion by 2006 if such legislation is not adopted; and
• appropriate an additional $3.5 billion in assistance to local first responders in FY 2004 to protect our homeland.