May 7, 2020

Dear Governor Abbott,

First, thank you for your guidance and leadership during this uniquely challenging time. As mayors from cities across , we fully understand the need to revitalize economic opportunity for all Texans while also ensuring we are doing all we can to protect public health by stopping the spread of COVID-19. We stand ready to assist you in this endeavor in every way possible.

On March 27th, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which provided over $2 trillion in emergency relief funds to help mitigate the financial harm caused by COVID-19. Included in the funding was $11.24 billion from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF), which was split between the state of Texas and local governments in Texas with populations exceeding 500,000. While the six largest cities in Texas received a direct allocation of this funding from the federal government, no other Texas city has received CRF revenue to assist with disaster response. Needless to say, the virus representing our common enemy at the moment does not acknowledge city boundaries or population distinctions. Every single Texas city has a role to play in the battle for our state’s health and prosperity.

To that end, we’ve been encouraged to learn that your office is currently establishing a program for the distribution of a portion of the state’s revenue received from the CRF to cities with populations under 500,000. This funding is critical to support Texas cities and the services they are providing on the front lines of the COVID-19 emergency. We ask that you consider allowing any funds received by Texas cities to be used in the most flexible manner permitted by law. Though the U.S. Department of Treasury’s guidance prohibits the use of CRF funds for revenue replacement of budget shortfalls in governments’ budgets, there are ongoing discussions at the congressional level about potentially expanding permissible CRF expenditures to include revenue replacement. Should federal legislation allow for increased expenditure flexibility, we request that any state program follow suit.

However, we are concerned that guidelines on how to apply for that funding have not yet been released to the public. Cities are now in the midst of preparing budgets, and barring CRF information, cities are left with making tough budgetary decisions that affect their entire communities and organization. Furthermore, there is no clear indication on where cities, that are under the 500,000-population requirement, but fall within a county receiving assistance from the CRF, should apply for funding. These cities are unsure on whether to work with the state or with their county on financial assistance. We ask that application guidelines, including a clarification for cities within a 500,000-population county, be published swiftly so that cities can continue to plan and provide public services without serious interruption.

Texas cities are in a unique position to both stem the tide of COVID-19 in Texas, and to help spark our economic recovery. With the necessary resources, we are confident that Texas cities will lead the state back towards a prosperous and vibrant future.

Sincerely,

Eddie Daffern, TML President Karen Hunt, TML President-Elect Mayor, City of Staples Mayor, City of Coppell

Martha Castex-Tatum, Vice Mayor Pro Tem City of , Mayor City of

Steve Adler, Mayor City of Austin Betsy Price, Mayor City of Fort Worth

Dee Margo, Mayor City of El Paso Joe McComb, Mayor City of Corpus Christi

Jeff Williams, Mayor City of Arlington Ginger Nelson, Mayor City of Amarillo

Dan Pope, Mayor City of Lubbock

Harry LaRosiliere, Mayor City of Plano

Jeff Cheney, Mayor City of Frisco Toby Powell, Mayor

City of Conroe

Scott LeMay, Mayor City of Garland

Jane Hughson, Mayor City of San Marcos

Joe Zimmerman, Mayor City of Sugar Land Kenny Phillips, Mayor City of Mobile City

Rick Stopher, Mayor City of Irving

Henry Wilson, Mayor City of Hurst

George Fuller, Mayor City of McKinney

Linda Martin, Mayor City of Euless

Chris Watts, Mayor City of Denton Cecelia Cissy Gonzalez-Dippel, Mayor City of Floresville

Ron Jensen, Mayor City of Grand Prairie Larry Vernon, Mayor City of Eastland

James D. Yarbrough, Mayor City of Galveston

Laurie Blanco, Mayor City of Dalworthington Gardens Bill Blackburn, Mayor City of Kerrville

Tom Daly, Mayor Andrew S. Friedberg, Mayor City of Selma City of Bellaire

Roy Tovar, Mayor Michel J. Bechtel, Mayor City of Waelder City of Morgan’s Point

Don Denbow, Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez, Mayor City of Corsicana City of Pharr

GeoJan Wright GeoJan Wright, Mayor City of Coffee City Michael Barnhart, Mayor City of Lake

Flora Brady, Mayor City of Andrews Manny Baeza, Mayor City of Marfa

Gerald Joubert, Mayor City of Forest Hill Susie Houston Susie Houston, Mayor Town of Laguna Vista Lynn Ramsey Lynn Ramsey, Mayor City of Shamrock Lane Horwood Lane Horwood, Mayor City of Sterling City Dorothy Welch Jim McInnis Dorothy Welch, Mayor Jim McInnis, Mayor City of Splendora City of Hamilton

Thomas G. Kolupski, Mayor Steve Spicer, Mayor City of Seabrook City of Jamaica Beach

Lynda Lynn Lynda Lynn, Mayor City of Electra Jim McKenzie, Mayor

City of Sweetwater Garry Manitzas Garry Manitzas, Mayor City of Fair Oaks Ranch

Glen Smith Scott Neu, Mayor City of Lindsay Glen Smith, Mayor

City of Palacios Trey Mendez Keith Short Trey Mendez, Mayor City of Brownsville Keith Short, Mayor City of McLendon-Chisholm

Stephen Mason, Mayor City of Cedar Hill Cathy Young, Mayor City of Chillicothe Doyle Robinson Doyle Robinson, Mayor David Rutledge City of Panhandle David Rutledge, Mayor City of Bridge City Pam Frederick Pam Frederick, Mayor City of Bullard Lisa B. Pierce Lisa B. Pierce, Mayor Gilbert Gomez, Mayor City of Kirby City of Robstown

Paul Johnson David R. Turner David R. Turner, Mayor Paul Johnson, Mayor City of Odessa City of Jonestown

BJ McGinnis BJ McGinnis, Mayor City of Blanket , Mayor City of Tyler

George R. Haehn David Suarez, Mayor City of Weslaco George R. Haehn, Mayor City of Buda

Roger Shugart Ritch Wheeler Roger Shugart, Mayor City of Brazoria Ritch Wheeler, Mayor City of Shenandoah

Billy P.Davis Billy P. Davis, Mayor City of Crowley Dale Ross, Mayor

City of Georgetown

Cathy Skurow, Mayor Carl Marino City of Portland Carl Marino, Mayor City of Fayetteville

Gary Chumley Gary Chumley, Mayor Galen Mansee City of Gatesville Galen Mansee, Mayor City of Stagecoach

Stephen L. Santellana, Mayor City of Wichita Falls Mary Moore Mary Moore, Mayor City of Pearsall Joe Chow, Mayor Town of Addison

Trudia Preston William D. Sciscoe, Mayor Trudia Preston, Mayor City of Dish City of Goliad

Andrew L. Smith Frank George Andrew L. Smith, Mayor Frank George, Mayor City of Hillsboro City of Kirbyville

Mark Groneman Mark Groneman, Mayor City of Vega

Emmanuel Wealthy, Mayor City of Wilmer Bob Bruggeman, Mayor City of Texarkana

Thurman Bill Bartie, Mayor City of Port Arthur

Anita Rodriguez, Mayor City of Yoakum

Luis D. Carrera Jeff Jordan, Mayor City of Kaufman Luis D. Carrera, Mayor City of Cockrell Hill

Nancy Moore Nancy Moore, Mayor Pro Tem City of Tye Brenda Gunter, Mayor City of San Angelo Charles Bujan Charles Bujan, Mayor City of Port Aransas

Jason Tabor, Mayor Royking Potter, Mayor City of Santa Fe City of Shallowater

Nancy Ruckstaetter Nancy Ruckstaetter, Mayor City of Log Cabin Victor A. Contreras, Mayor City of Marion

Bruce Archer Janice Whitehead Bruce Archer, Mayor City of Mesquite Janice Whitehead, Mayor City of Sealy

Frank Moreno Curtistene S. McCowan Frank Moreno, Mayor City of Crystal City Curtistene S. McCowan, Mayor City of DeSoto

Andy Williams Andy Williams, Mayor

Cyndie Rathbun, Mayor City of Nolanville Town of Rancho Viejo Clarence Burns Nick Sanders Clarence Burns, Mayor Nick Sanders, Mayor City of Linden Town of Trophy Club

Phyllis Santleben Phyllis Santleben, Mayor Todd Purcell, Mayor City of Castroville City of Dripping Springs

Harold D. Chandler, Mayor City of East Tawakoni Lindsey L. Webb, Mayor City of Abernathy

Oscar Trevino Oscar Trevino, Mayor City of North Richland Hills Johnnie Hauerland, Mayor City of Meridian

John Packer, Mayor City of Marble Falls Terri Brown, Mayor City of Marshall

Bruno Lozano, Mayor

City of Del Rio Sara Post Meyer, Mayor City of Cuero James C. Samples James C. Samples, Mayor City of Hughes Springs

Ray Smith, Mayor Sam Miller Town of Prosper Sam Miller, Mayor City of Sudan George Rivera George Rivera, Mayor Becky Ames City of Palm Valley Becky Ames, Mayor City of Beaumont Allyson Crenshaw

Allyson Crenshaw, Mayor City of Robert Lee

Lewis Ivey Jerry B. Dittrich, Mayor Lewis Ivey, Mayor City of Benbrook City of Diboll

Leroy Hughes Leroy Hughes, Mayor City of San Augustine Geronimo M. Gonzales, Mayor City of Brownfield Tom Simons Tom Simons, Mayor City of Hereford Merle Aaron, Mayor City of Humble

Mark Turner Mark Turner, Mayor City of Wills Point Jose Segarra, Mayor City of Killeen

Benjamin Gomez, Mayor City of San Benito

Scott Cain, Mayor Scott Anderson City of Cleburne Scott Anderson, Mayor City of Patton Village Jim Olk Jim Olk, Mayor City of Lucas

cc: Texas Congressional Delegation Texas State Senate Texas House of Representatives Governor Strike Force to Open Texas