The NCARCOG Board of Directors has adopted its 2024 policy agenda. The North Carolina Association of Regional Councils of Governments (NCARCOG) 2024 Policy Agenda outlines several key priorities and action requests to improve the prosperity of both rural and urban areas in North Carolina. The document emphasizes the NCARCOG’s role in advocating for regional solutions to multi-jurisdictional issues, coordinated state and federal program service delivery, and building strategic partnerships.
Key priorities in the 2024 Policy Agenda include:
1. Financial Administration for Local Governments: NCARCOG aims to build partnerships and capacity to provide financial administration services to local governments struggling with financial management, to help them comply with state and national accounting standards. It seeks $3.95 million in recurring funding to employ additional finance professionals to assist small local governments.
2. Aging Services ARMS System Replacement: The agenda calls for funding to replace the outdated Aging Resource Management System (ARMS) used for aging services reimbursement, citing its risks and limitations. An estimated implementation cost of $5.96 million, plus $3.89 million for five years of operations and maintenance, is requested.
3. Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Funding: An additional $2.75 million in annual recurring funds is requested to fully fund the ombudsman program, addressing the needs of North Carolinians living in long-term care facilities.
4. Prosperity Zones Modification: The agenda suggests modifying the eight Prosperity Zones to conform to COG regions, to reduce duplication, confusion, and to facilitate better coordination of services.
5. Disaster Resiliency Efforts and Hazard Mitigation Planning: It proposes ongoing funding for COGs to continue disaster resiliency efforts and to establish COGs as the entity to develop regional pre-disaster hazard mitigation plans, requesting a recurring annual appropriation of $3.9 million.
6. Legislative Authority for COGs to Apply for Transit Grants: Specific legislation is requested to authorize COGs to apply for transit planning, capital, and operating grants offered through NCDOT and the FTA.
7. High-Speed Broadband Expansion: Support is sought for legislative and policy efforts to increase the availability of high-speed broadband throughout North Carolina, urging continued funding to study, build, and upgrade broadband infrastructure.
8. Strategic Partnerships for Regional Service Delivery: NCARCOG advocates for increased use of COGs to administer and/or implement multi-county governmental services and programs, opposing the creation of new regional offices or service areas that split COG regions.
9. Eligibility for State and Federal Grants: The agenda calls for modification of rules, regulations, or legislation to include COGs as eligible entities for state and federal grants, aligning with the OMB Circular 2 CFR 200.64(l) that identifies a COG as an eligible local government for federal grant awards.