Some Broward County Jobs Hinge on National Legislation

The passage of national legislation could help save many Broward County jobs.

Several local and national entities are working together in an effort to convince Congress to pass the Local Jobs for America Act, which will help counties and cities hard-hit by the recession to save and create jobs, as well as continue providing community services.

The act would provide states, local governments, and community-based organizations with federal funding to save and create jobs through the retention, restoration and expansion of local community services.

"Nearly 100,000 Broward County residents are unemployed with thousands more under-employed or are long-term unemployed and don't show up in official unemployment statistics," Ilene Lieberman, Broward County Commissioner and chair of NACo's Large Urban County Caucus, said.

"Our county is facing a FY2010-11 budget deficit of $109 million," she continued. "This is on the heels of two previous years of shortfalls of $87 million and $90 million. Creating local jobs will stimulate local businesses and create more jobs in the local economy."

The National Association of Counties, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and National League of Cities are three of the largest organizations supporting the effort. The organizations recently released a joint study demonstrating the tough fiscal situation cities and counties are facing as a result of the recession.

The study found that those fiscal problems faced by local governments could result in the loss of 500,000 jobs throughout the country and cuts to necessary public services as cities and towns attempt to balance their budgets.

"Services to the public have been cut, county employees have been laid off or furloughed, and capital expenditures have been reduced," NACo President Glen Whitley said. "The Local Jobs for America Act will help ensure that our county employees who fight crime, protect our communities from fire and natural and man-made disasters, and teach our children are able to continue performing these vital functions."