County Officials Appointed to NACo Committees
Posted By J.T. on August 29, 2009
Harrisonville, Missouri - Several Cass County officials have been appointed by the National Association of Counties to serve on four national steering committees.
The National Association of Counties (NACo) is the only national organization that represents county governments in the United States. Founded in 1935, NACo provides essential services to the nation’s 3,066 counties. NACo advances issues with a unified voice before the federal government, improves the public’s understanding of county government, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research, and provides value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money.
NACo’s membership totals more than 2,000 counties, representing over 80 percent of the nation’s population.
Presiding Commissioner Gary Mallory has been appointed to serve on the Human Services & Education Steering Committee. The committee addressed issues pertaining to immediate and long-range welfare reform, income maintenance, senior citizens, community action, food stamps, right’s of the handicapped, low-income energy assistance, illegal aliens, domestic violence, and administration of county welfare programs.
Associate Commissioner Brian Baker has been appointed to serve on the Finance & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. The committee addresses issues pertaining to the financial resources of counties; fiscal management; federal assistance; municipal borrowing; county revenues; federal budget; federal tax reform; and legislative issues facing local governments.
County Collector Pam Shipley has been appointed to serve on the Telecommunications & Technology Steering Committee. This committee addresses issues pertaining to telecommunications and technology policy, information technology development and implementation; information technology innovation; e-governance; and data collection and utilization.
Associate Commissioner Bill Cook has been appointed to serve on the Agriculture & Rural Affairs Steering Committee. This committee addresses issues pertaining to legislation affecting the economy of agricultural counties; rural development programs; and conservation and environmental programs affecting agriculture. I n addition, the committee is responsible for oversight of platform amendments and resolutions from other steering committees that have a significant impact on rural counties.
With its headquarters on Capitol Hill, NACo is a full-service organization that provides an extensive line of services including legislative, research, technical, and public affairs assistance, as well as enterprise services to its members. The association acts as a liaison with other levels of government, works to improve public understanding of counties, serves as a national advocate for counties and provides them with resources to help them find innovative methods to meet the challenges they face. NACo is involved in a number of special projects that deal with such issues as homeland security, infrastructure, and economic development.
NACo’s committees, whose members include county officials from every region of the country, are charged on an annual basis with evaluating issues and policies.
Cass County officials will work with national and local leaders to influence policy. “Our goal, as representatives of the people, is to advocate for sound, fiscal policies that help promote smaller government and local control,” commented Associate Commissioner Brian Baker. “This is our chance to be a voice in Washington DC as well as within our state.”
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