County readies $2.1 billion GAOA ask and talking points for NACo meetings in Washington
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Summary
County staff briefed supervisors on federal advocacy for NACo, including an approximate $2.1 billion Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) funding request over 7–10 years—roughly $1.6 billion for Grand Canyon recovery—and a proposal to allow GAOA funds to support vegetation management and forest restoration for the Kaibab.
Deputy County Manager Eric Peterson and intergovernmental staff reviewed the county’s federal legislative agenda and final talking points ahead of the upcoming National Association of Counties (NACo) conference in Washington, D.C.
Staff outlined a county ask of approximately $2.1 billion in Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) funding spread over seven to 10 years, with an estimated $1.6 billion earmarked for recovery and restoration work tied to the Grand Canyon and Kaibab National Forest. County staff emphasized that GAOA is currently restricted to recreation uses and would not typically fund vegetation management or forest restoration; the county’s request includes asking Congress to authorize use of GAOA funds for vegetation management in the Kaibab for this recovery effort.
Peterson and district staff discussed reauthorization timing for GAOA, communication strategy for congressional meetings, and the county’s leave-behind materials. Staff urged supervisors to provide talking points and noted logistics for the DC visit; Treasurer Sarah Benatar’s candidacy for a NACO leadership position was also discussed as a county priority to highlight during the trip.
Supervisors sought clearer breakdowns of the large aggregate figure so audiences would see year-by-year or phase-by-phase costs rather than a single headline number. Staff said the $2.1 billion figure reflects aggregated agency estimates and stressed the need to present the plan at a scale that makes the funding ask understandable to lawmakers.
