May 7, 2020

Dear Governor Abbott,

First, thank you for your guidance and leadership during this uniquely challenging time. As mayors from cities across Texas, 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 Mayor, City of Staples

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

Steve Adler, Mayor City of Austin

Dee Margo, Mayor City of El Paso

Jeff Williams, Mayor City of Arlington

Dan Pope, Mayor City of Lubbock

Karen Hunt, TML President-Elect Mayor, City of Coppell

Ron Nirenberg, Mayor City of San Antonio

Betsy Price, Mayor City of Fort Worth

Joe McComb, Mayor City of Corpus Christi

Ginger Nelson, Mayor City of Amarillo

Harry LaRosiliere, Mayor City of Plano

Jeff Cheney, Mayor City of Frisco

Scott LeMay, Mayor City of Garland

Joe Zimmerman, Mayor City of Sugar Land

Rick Stopher, Mayor City of Irving

George Fuller, Mayor City of McKinney

Chris Watts, Mayor City of Denton

Ron Jensen, Mayor City of Grand Prairie

James D. Yarbrough, Mayor City of Galveston

Toby Powell, Mayor City of Conroe

Jane Hughson, Mayor City of San Marcos

Kenny Phillips, Mayor City of Mobile City

Henry Wilson, Mayor City of Hurst

Linda Martin, Mayor City of Euless

Cecelia Cissy Gonzalez-Dippel, Mayor City of Floresville

Larry Vernon, Mayor City of Eastland

Laurie Blanco, Mayor City of Dalworthington Gardens

Tom Daly, Mayor City of Selma

Roy Tovar, Mayor City of Waelder

Don Denbow, Mayor City of Corsicana GeoJan Wright GeoJan Wright, Mayor City of Coffee City

Flora Brady, Mayor City of Andrews

Gerald Joubert, Mayor City of Forest Hill

Lynn Ramsey Lynn Ramsey, Mayor City of Shamrock

Bill Blackburn, Mayor City of Kerrville

Andrew S. Friedberg, Mayor City of Bellaire

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

Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez, Mayor City of Pharr

Michael Barnhart, Mayor City of Lake Dallas

Manny Baeza, Mayor City of Marfa

Susie Houston Susie Houston, Mayor Town of Laguna Vista

Lane Horwood Lane Horwood, Mayor City of Sterling City

Dorothy Welch Dorothy Welch, Mayor City of Splendora

Steve Spicer, Mayor City of Jamaica Beach

Lynda Lynn Lynda Lynn, Mayor City of Electra

Garry Manitzas Garry Manitzas, Mayor City of Fair Oaks Ranch

Glen Smith Glen Smith, Mayor City of Palacios

Keith Short Keith Short, Mayor City of McLendon-Chisholm

Cathy Young, Mayor City of Chillicothe

David Rutledge David Rutledge, Mayor City of Bridge City

Jim McInnis Jim McInnis, Mayor City of Hamilton

Thomas G. Kolupski, Mayor City of Seabrook

Jim McKenzie, Mayor City of Sweetwater

Scott Neu, Mayor City of Lindsay

Trey Mendez Trey Mendez, Mayor City of Brownsville

Stephen Mason, Mayor City of Cedar Hill

Doyle Robinson Doyle Robinson, Mayor City of Panhandle

Pam Frederick Pam Frederick, Mayor City of Bullard

Gilbert Gomez, Mayor City of Robstown

Paul Johnson Paul Johnson, Mayor City of Jonestown

BJ McGinnis BJ McGinnis, Mayor City of Blanket

David Suarez, Mayor City of Weslaco

Roger Shugart Roger Shugart, Mayor City of Brazoria

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

Cathy Skurow, Mayor City of Portland

Gary Chumley Gary Chumley, Mayor City of Gatesville

Stephen L. Santellana, Mayor City of Wichita Falls

Lisa B. Pierce Lisa B. Pierce, Mayor City of Kirby

David R. Turner David R. Turner, Mayor City of Odessa

Martin Heines, Mayor City of Tyler

George R. Haehn George R. Haehn, Mayor City of Buda

Ritch Wheeler, Mayor City of Shenandoah

Dale Ross, Mayor City of Georgetown

Carl Marino Carl Marino, Mayor City of Fayetteville

Galen Mansee Galen Mansee, Mayor City of Stagecoach

Mary Moore Mary Moore, Mayor City of Pearsall

William D. Sciscoe, Mayor City of Dish

Andrew L. Smith Andrew L. Smith, Mayor City of Hillsboro

Emmanuel Wealthy, Mayor City of Wilmer

Thurman Bill Bartie, Mayor City of Port Arthur

Jeff Jordan, Mayor City of Kaufman

Nancy Moore Nancy Moore, Mayor Pro Tem City of Tye

Charles Bujan Charles Bujan, Mayor City of Port Aransas

Joe Chow, Mayor Town of Addison

Trudia Preston Trudia Preston, Mayor City of Goliad

Frank George Frank George, Mayor City of Kirbyville Mark Groneman Mark Groneman, Mayor City of Vega

Bob Bruggeman, Mayor City of Texarkana

Anita Rodriguez, Mayor City of Yoakum

Luis D. Carrera Luis D. Carrera, Mayor City of Cockrell Hill

Brenda Gunter, Mayor City of San Angelo

Jason Tabor, Mayor City of Santa Fe

Nancy Ruckstaetter Nancy Ruckstaetter, Mayor City of Log Cabin

Bruce Archer Bruce Archer, Mayor City of Mesquite

Frank Moreno Frank Moreno, Mayor City of Crystal City

Cyndie Rathbun, Mayor Town of Rancho Viejo

Nick Sanders Nick Sanders, Mayor Town of Trophy Club

Phyllis Santleben Phyllis Santleben, Mayor City of Castroville

Harold D. Chandler, Mayor City of East Tawakoni

Royking Potter, Mayor City of Shallowater

Victor A. Contreras, Mayor City of Marion

Janice Whitehead Janice Whitehead, Mayor City of Sealy

Curtistene S. McCowan Curtistene S. McCowan, Mayor City of DeSoto

Andy Williams Andy Williams, Mayor City of Nolanville

Clarence Burns Clarence Burns, Mayor City of Linden

Todd Purcell, Mayor City of Dripping Springs

Lindsey L. Webb, Mayor City of Abernathy

Oscar Trevino Oscar Trevino, Mayor City of North Richland Hills

John Packer, Mayor City of Marble Falls

Bruno Lozano, Mayor City of Del Rio

James C. Samples James C. Samples, Mayor City of Hughes Springs

Sam Miller Sam Miller, Mayor City of Sudan

Becky Ames Becky Ames, Mayor City of Beaumont

Jerry B. Dittrich, Mayor City of Benbrook

Leroy Hughes Leroy Hughes, Mayor City of San Augustine

Johnnie Hauerland, Mayor City of Meridian

Terri Brown, Mayor City of Marshall

Sara Post Meyer, Mayor City of Cuero

Ray Smith, Mayor Town of Prosper

George Rivera George Rivera, Mayor City of Palm Valley

Allyson Crenshaw Allyson Crenshaw, Mayor City of Robert Lee

Lewis Ivey Lewis Ivey, Mayor City of Diboll

Geronimo M. Gonzales, Mayor City of Brownfield

Tom Simons Tom Simons, Mayor City of Hereford

Mark Turner Mark Turner, Mayor City of Wills Point

Benjamin Gomez, Mayor City of San Benito

Scott Anderson Scott Anderson, Mayor City of Patton Village

Merle Aaron, Mayor City of Humble

Jose Segarra, Mayor City of Killeen

Scott Cain, Mayor City of Cleburne

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