LMR JUNE 2021

Inside the LMA
Director’s Viewpoint
LMA’S SUMMER IS HEATING UP
BY JOHN GALLAGHER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The heat of summer is settling in
throughout our great state, signaling
the beginning of the LMA’s
annual summer events (which we
missed so much in 2020). I look forward to completing
our ten LMA District Meetings, which kicked off with District
F on June 2 in Sunset and will run through the end
of the month. I hope to see each of you at these meetings.
Planning is also well underway for our 84th Annual
Convention, which will take place July 29 - 31 at the Raising
Cane’s River Center in Baton Rouge. With COVID-19
event restrictions easing significantly, Mayor Sharon
Weston Broome and her staff are eager to roll out the
red carpet in Red Stick for you. We have a strong line
up of informative workshops and exhibitors, and are
thrilled to announce that once again, the City of Pineville
will coordinate the annual Friday morning Prayer Breakfast.
We have tentatively confirmed the participation
of Governor Edwards, Lieutenant Governor Nungesser,
Treasurer Schroder, and Clarence Anthony, the Executive
Director of the National League of Cities. Registration is
open now, so reserve your hotel rooms early as they are
going fast! Registration and accommodation information
is included this issue but may also be accessed on
our website at www.lma.org.
I am grateful that so many LMA members have engaged
in our calls and webinars regarding the American Rescue
Plan Act (ARPA) and I would like to thank the advocacy
staff of the National League of Cities for providing
regular updates on the usage of those ARPA funds.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we at the
LMA are committed to providing guidance and support
to our members as you navigate through the process
of receiving, allocating, expending, and accounting for
ARPA funds. As a reminder, municipalities over 50,000
in population (“Entitlement Units” or “EUs”) will receive
their allocations directly from the U.S. Department of
Treasury; whereas those under 50,000 in population
(“Non-Entitlement Units” or “NEUs”) will receive their
allocations by way of the Division of Administration’s
Office of Community Development. The DOA is developing
an online portal that will be used to access the funds,
but in the meantime, you must complete the User Access
Form and return it to OCD. You should have received an
email from the LMA containing the form and other pertinent
information, but please contact our offices if you
require additional information.
Another perennial federal issue
that is currently resurfacing is
the National Flood Insurance
Program (NFIP), namely the
updating of the NFIP risk
rating methodology through
the implementation of a new
pricing approach known as
“Risk Rating 2.0,” which is set to
take effect on October 1, 2021. We
share the concerns of our fellow Gulf Coast municipal
leagues about this new methodology, which shifts focus
away from the mitigation of vulnerable properties
in favor of targeting homes outside of flood zones with
higher insurance premiums. According to U.S. Senator Bill
Cassidy’s office, the new risk rating methodology could
increase premiums for 80% of Louisiana policyholders,
some by hundreds of dollars annually. We will continue
to monitor this evolving issue and will work with Senator
Cassidy, Senator Kennedy, and our entire congressional
delegation to address these concerns.
As I write this column, the 2021 Regular Session of the
Legislature is winding down. Overall, we had a successful
session. Though we tracked 263 bills and spent many
long hours lobbying on relevant bills, much of our time
was dedicated to two instruments: HB 199 on streamlining
our current sales and use tax collection system, and
HB 648 whose stated purpose is to proliferate broadband
access statewide through allocation of state funding and
enabling the use of federal and other funding to install
critical infrastructure. You will hear more about both in
our district meetings this month.
Speaking of district meetings, we are all very excited
about resuming these important in-person gatherings
after our forced cancellation of the 2020 meetings due
to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been such a pleasure to
see everyone again in person and I look forward to completing
our meetings as we travel the state this month,
updating our members on LMA activities, along with
legislative advocacy.
Thank you all for your leadership during the past year
as we all maneuvered our way through the COVID-19
issues. With meaningful funding not on the horizon,
please continue to monitor your emails so that you will
have the latest information on ARPA and other funding
opportunities.
LMR | JUNE 2021 Page 3