Van Hollen, Warren, Schumer, Brown Urge Fed to Fix Rules That Block City, County Governments from Receiving DIRECT COVID-19 Relief

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) have sent a letter to Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairman Jerome Powell expressing serious concern with the arbitrary population thresholds used to determine eligibility for cities and counties to receive relief under the newly created Municipal Liquidity Facility program. The Senators urged Chairman Powell to expand eligibility for the program, which was authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and allows the Fed to purchase up to $500 billion of debt from eligible entities. As noted in their letter, under the current requirements laid out by the Fed, the program will only directly benefit 15 counties and 10 cities across the United States.  

The Senators wrote, “Cities and counties across the country are in desperate financial straits and need assistance from Congress and the Federal Reserve, and the Federal Reserve’s announcement last week that it would be purchasing up to $500 billion of debt from eligible cities and counties was welcome news. But by limiting the direct purchase of short-term notes to cities with at least one million residents and to counties with at least two million residents, the Federal Reserve’s program will benefit only 15 counties and 10 cities, leaving out much of the country, including some of the hardest-hit communities.”

In their letter, the senators urged Chairman Powell to revise the terms of the program to allow more cities and counties to participate, noting, “the population limitation is arbitrary and unacceptable and will hurt hundreds of communities nationwide.” They point to examples throughout their states including Baltimore, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; Toledo, Ohio; and Westchester County, New York, all of which will not receive direct funding from the current program.

The Senators also stress, “Congress intended for the law to channel badly needed resources to state and local governments that are fighting on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic while grappling with a historic economic slowdown and billions of dollars in lost revenue.” The Members add that, without this support, these governments will be forced to cut services or raise taxes – both of which can harm public health and the economy when they are most vulnerable. 

As the Senators mention in their letter, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant revenue shortfalls and has also increased costs for local governments, with a National League of Cities report finding that more than 2,100 cities are planning for major budget shortfalls this year as a result of the unexpected increase in expenditures and loss in revenue. These communities, which will need to scale back projects and services to focus on curbing the spread of the virus, need the expeditious support of the federal government to fill these short and long-term gaps in funding.  

The letter was also signed by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.).

The full text of the letter is available here and below.

Dear Chairman Powell,

We write to you today to express our concerns regarding the seemingly arbitrary city and county population thresholds used to determine eligibility for the Federal Reserve’s recently announced Municipal Liquidity Facility program authorized in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136). Cities and counties across the country are in desperate financial straits and need assistance from Congress and the Federal Reserve, and the Federal Reserve’s announcement last week that it would be purchasing up to $500 billion of debt from eligible cities and counties was welcome news.[1] But by limiting the direct purchase of short-term notes to cities with at least one million residents and to counties with at least two million residents, the Federal Reserve’s program will benefit only 15 counties and 10 cities, leaving out much of the country, including some of the hardest-hit communities.[2]

With over 50,000 different issuers within the municipal bond market, we understand that the Federal Reserve had to take the difficult step in establishing parameters on what type of municipal bonds can be accepted into the facility.[3] However, the population limitation is arbitrary and unacceptable and will hurt hundreds of communities nationwide. We, therefore, strongly urge you to revise the terms of the Federal Reserve’s Municipal Liquidity Facility program by considering more inclusive alternatives to reducing the complexity of the municipal liquidity facility.

As we look to weather our Nation’s health and economic crisis, we have been in constant contact with state and local governmental entities affected by the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic across our country. Cities and counties are on the front lines in this public health emergency and need assistance from the federal government to address the lost revenue from and increased costs of the fight against COVID-19. The pandemic has caused significant revenue shortfalls and has also increased costs for local governments. A National League of Cities report released earlier this week found that more than 2,100 cities are planning for major budget shortfalls this year as a result of unexpected increase in expenditures and loss in revenue.[4] This has resulted in localities scaling back projects and services to focus on curbing the spread of the virus. Now more than ever, localities need the expeditious support of the federal government to fill these short and long-term gaps in funding.

On a local level, localities are experiencing and responding to these shocks in a variety of ways. Baltimore City, Maryland (population 602,000) anticipates a $42.3 million budget shortfall as a result of COVID-19 and has been forced to undergo a spending and hiring freeze.[5] The City of Boston (population nearly 695,000) will see tens of millions in lost revenue and unexpected expenses related to the immediate public health response and the long term effects of restarting the local economy. Because of the pandemic, Toledo, Ohio (population: 276,491) anticipates a budget deficit of $10 million but it could balloon as high as $50 million. To trim costs, the city has placed over 10% percent of its employees on temporary emergency leave - a decision that has affected every facet of city government, including the police and fire departments. And, New York’s Westchester County (population 967,506) is estimating over a $100 million decline in sales tax revenue, plus nearly $16 million in reduced public transportation fares and $8 million in county park fees. These are just four examples of how this economic shock is playing out around the U.S.

Congress intended for the law to channel badly needed resources to state and local governments that are fighting on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic while grappling with a historic economic slowdown and billions of dollars in lost revenue. By imposing the limits set out in its Municipal Liquidity Facility program, the Federal Reserve is denying the vast majority of our country’s local governments direct access to funding, leaving them in desperate straits. Without quick access to federal assistance, these governments will be forced to cut services or raise taxes—both of which can harm public health and the economy when they are most vulnerable.

As we continue to navigate this difficult time for our Nation, we must stay united in our resolve to combat this virus and the economic crisis it has created, and the federal government must provide all states and counties with much-needed assistance.  We therefore urge you to expand eligibility for the new Municipal Liquidity Facility.

Sincerely,