Durbin Discusses COVID-19 Fiscal Relief For State And Local Government With Southern Illinois Mayors Association
SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke by phone with the Southern Illinois Mayors Association today about the estimated $7 billion loss in state and local revenue Illinois will see by next summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on municipal services and projects. While the Republicans’ proposal for the next COVID-19 relief package includes no new state or local funding, Durbin has called for significantly increasing funding to state and local governments, regardless of the locality’s size, and increased flexibility with the funding to replace lost revenues and assist with COVID-19 response. Durbin also discussed proposed changes to the Federal Reserve’s Municipal Liquidity Facility (MLF) to make the facility accessible to more municipalities by extending the MLF through 2021, expanding eligibility to include municipalities with more than 50,000 residents, and capping the interest rate.
“Our state and local leaders are on the ground, leading the COVID-19 response, but municipalities are not immune to the effects of this crisis. With state and local government revenue plummeting, municipalities are struggling to pay teachers and health care workers and provide vital services for community members,” said Durbin. “I will keep fighting for state and local governments to ensure that they have access to the resources they need to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and to recover from the economic hardship brought on by this virus.”
Mayors participating in the call today included:
- Mayor Jason Ashmore, Sesser
- Mayor Steve Frattini, Herrin
- Mayor Robert Spencer, Pinckneyville
- Mayor Brad Robinson, Carterville
- Mayor Mike Henry, Carbondale
- Mayor Don Wisely, Vergennes
- Mayor Kim Adair, Louisville
- Mayor Dennis Mitchell, Ziegler
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