Director's Review

Director's Review by Dan Ross, Executive Director, Missouri Municipal League

A Year Of Firsts

As 2020 continues to unfold you must wonder what other challenges and opportunities will impact our world, our country and our cities this year. Who could have forecasted the immediate and prolonged effect and threat that an unseen infectious virus from the other side of the globe could unleash on so many people in a short few months? The ongoing loss of human life attributed to COVID-19 or the more prevalent flu varieties is significant. We all probably know of someone who suffered or died from these illnesses. The municipal response to these threats is born out of necessity to reduce costs and reallocate resources to provide priority services. While the impact on municipal resources varies by city in 2020, it appears cities, towns and villages will soon be heading into year two with ongoing revenue shortfalls and reduced or depleted reserves.

"The year 2020 is a game changer in so many ways and there are still three months left. What has not changed is that cities need resources and tools to operate and citizens need essential city services to be safe and healthy."

CARES Act funds have generally been held up at the county level for several months; unavailable to most cities until just recently. There is also a very limited scope for the use of the funds and the Dec. 31, 2020, deadline to expend them. It adds up to be a too-little, too-late lost opportunity to really help municipalities carrying the load of keeping this country running during the pandemic. CARES Act funding amounts to putting a band-aid on a serious wound.

MML and other state municipal leagues have been working with the National League of Cities on a Cities Are Essential campaign seeking flexible, direct funding to cities to address the very real and ongoing budget problems that have necessitated layoffs, furloughs, program and service cuts. The U.S. House and Senate appear to be deadlocked with competing and quite different funding bills. Unfortunately, funding for local government is caught in the middle of the standoff. It does not help that a presidential election looms and the battle lines are drawn. We, with your assistance, will continue to press our representatives and senators for their vote to provide flexible, direct funding for cities of all sizes in order to restore budgets and municipal jobs lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The MML office has been closed to the public since March and MML staff have been alternating working from home and the office to provide the news and information you need to manage your city.

In a year of many other firsts, due to the threat of COVID-19 infection, I decided to change from our 86-year history of in-person annual conferences to a virtual conference format. This represents a significant change and a lot of work for MML staff, as well as changes for presenters, exhibitors and sponsors. We know this necessary change is a new direction for you as well. Together, we will navigate this new experience.

All indications are that the number of virtual conferences and meetings will grow but not permanently replace in-person events. Significantly reduced travel, lodging and conference registration costs, combined with the ability to view the presentations on your schedule, will become part of the new normal for all of us.

The year 2020 is a game changer in so many ways and there are still three months left. What has not changed is that cities need resources and tools to operate and citizens need essential city services to be safe and healthy. MML and other state municipal leagues will continue to advocate for the much-needed resources. Thanks for all you do and please contact MML with any questions or concerns you might have. www.mocities.com 5