Title
Authorize the County Administrative Office to work with the County's federal legislators on potential earmark requests through the FY2022 appropriations and/or surface transportation reauthorization processes to advance Monterey County projects or programs.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors authorize the County Administrative Office to work with the County's federal legislators on potential earmark requests through the FY2022 appropriations and/or surface transportation reauthorization processes to advance Monterey County projects or programs.
SUMMARY:
It was recently announced that members of Congress would have the opportunity to submit earmark requests through the FY2022 appropriations process for community projects and under the surface transportation reauthorization process. Congressman Panetta requested information from Monterey County regarding potential projects/programs for his consideration on or before April 1, 2021. Due to the short timeframe for response and no Board of Supervisors meetings scheduled before that date, the County Administrative Officer sent a letter to Congressman Panetta providing short descriptions of several potential County projects/programs with a focus on County priorities and projects/programs where potential funding could be spent down over the next 1-2 years if received.
Staff recommends that the Board authorize the County Administrative Office to continue to work with Congressman Panetta and his staff to refine any of the County's requests he chooses to submit - and to similarly work with Senator Feinstein and Senator Padilla on these requests.
DISCUSSION:
In late February, House Democrats announced that the Appropriations Committee will be accepting Member requests for earmarked projects. In late March, House Republicans decided to participate in the process as well. The decision to return to the practice of earmarking federal funds, which was banned by Congress in 2011 du...
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