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<br /> June 2, 2020 <br /> <br />Governor Roy Cooper <br />Office of the Governor <br />20301 Mail Service Center <br />Raleigh, NC 27699-0301 <br /> <br />Re: Recommendations to Support Local Governments during the Pandemic <br /> <br />Dear Governor Cooper, <br />We are writing on behalf of the Orange County Climate Council, a collaborative effort <br />established by Orange County, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough. Our mission is to <br />develop equitable, effective solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect County <br />residents from climate impacts. Council members include representatives from the county and <br />municipal governments, the school systems, UNC-Chapel Hill, community organizations, and <br />Orange County residents. <br />Like other communities across our state, we continue to face the health and economic impacts of <br />the COVID-19 pandemic. We thank you for your leadership during this challenging time and for <br />your efforts to help local governments address immediate budget shortages. We urge you and <br />your administration to continue these efforts. State and federal support is critical at this time to <br />ensure that county and municipal governments can continue protecting public health and safety, <br />educating our citizens, providing transportation services, and performing other essential <br />functions. <br />We also urge your administration to identify opportunities to ensure that COVID relief <br />efforts help our local communities and economies emerge stronger, healthier, and more <br />resilient. As North Carolina’s communities deal with the public health and economic impacts of <br />COVID-19, many are still rebuilding after recent hurricanes and preparing for the likelihood of <br />another active hurricane season. Furthermore, the economic impacts of the pandemic are likely <br />to have long-term effects in many parts of our state. These challenges are interrelated and require <br />a comprehensive response, as noted in the World Health Organization’s “Prescriptions for a <br />Healthy and Green Recovery from COVID-19.” (See Appendix.) <br />Identifying opportunities for government funding to deliver multiple public health and economic <br />benefits is particularly important during this time of shrinking budgets. COVID-19 recovery <br />funding will be most impactful if it addresses local governments’ immediate budgetary needs, <br />protects local jobs, reduces ongoing expenses for governments or citizens, and improves the <br />quality of life in our communities. Numerous local projects can achieve these goals. For <br />example, reducing energy consumption in schools and government buildings, expanding <br />telecommuting options, or enhancing infrastructure to mitigate flooding would target near-term <br />3