National Association of County Officials

National Association of County Officials
Name	National Association of County Officials
Abbreviation	NACO
Formation	19XX
Type	Nonprofit association
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Leader title	President
Leader name	John Doe

National Association of County Officials is a U.S.-based membership association representing elected and appointed county officials across the United States. The organization serves as a forum for exchange among county executives, county commissioners, sheriffs, clerks, treasurers, auditors, and judges, and engages with federal agencies, state associations, and intergovernmental organizations. It provides training, model policies, research, and advocacy aimed at strengthening county administration and public services.

History

The association traces its roots to regional meetings of county leaders inspired by gatherings such as the National Governors Association conferences, the United States Conference of Mayors forums, and state-level associations like the California State Association of Counties and the Texas Association of Counties. Early milestones included coordination with entities such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency during disaster response, collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services on public health initiatives, and interactions with the U.S. Census Bureau on population data. Over decades the group engaged with landmark federal actions including provisions in the Social Security Act, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act debates, and grant programs administered through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Prominent county leaders who spoke at association conventions have included figures associated with the National League of Cities, the American Planning Association, and state chief executives from the Governor of New York and Governor of Ohio offices.

Organization and Governance

The association is governed by an elected board of directors composed of county officials mirroring models used by the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma and the Florida Association of Counties. Officers such as president, vice president, and treasurer are chosen through an annual election process similar to procedures of the American Bar Association and the National Association of Counties. Committees and task forces mirror issue-specific bodies in organizations like the National Association of State Budget Officers and the National Association of Local Boards of Health, and they coordinate with federal entities including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation. Staffed by policy analysts and meeting planners, the secretariat liaises with legislative offices on Capitol Hill, the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the United States House Committee on Appropriations.

Programs and Services

Core programs include technical assistance modeled after services offered by the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution, peer-to-peer leadership exchanges reflecting practices of the Council of State Governments, and legal consults analogous to those of the American Public Human Services Association. The association administers grant workshops that parallel trainings from the Kresge Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and offers procurement guidance informed by standards from the Government Accountability Office and the Institute of Internal Auditors. Public safety programs coordinate with the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Sheriffs' Association, while election administration support mirrors resources from the Election Assistance Commission.

Advocacy and Policy Positions

The association advocates on budget, infrastructure, public health, and emergency management issues before federal entities including the Congress of the United States, the White House, and the Office of Management and Budget. Policy positions have addressed funding formulas like those debated in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act deliberations, regulatory matters involving the Clean Water Act, and workforce issues tied to statutes such as the Americans with Disabilities Act. The association files amicus briefs in cases before the United States Supreme Court and submits comments to regulatory processes at agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Membership and Regional Structure

Membership spans elected officials and administrators from counties associated with state bodies like the New York State Association of Counties, the Illinois Association of County Board Members, and the Georgia County Commissioners Association. The regional structure divides members into districts comparable to divisions used by the National Weather Service regional offices and the Small Business Administration regions, enabling coordination similar to that between the Association of State Floodplain Managers and regional planning commissions. Affiliate partnerships include state associations, tribal governments represented at forums with the National Congress of American Indians, and metropolitan organizations such as the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

Conferences and Training

Annual conferences draw speakers and participants from institutions such as the Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Communications Commission, and the National Institutes of Health. Workshops cover topics paralleling curricula at the Harvard Kennedy School executive programs, the Center for Progressive Reform policy seminars, and training modules used by the International City/County Management Association. Certificate programs and executive education are offered in partnership with universities and think tanks including the University of California system, the George Washington University, and the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Publications and Research

The association publishes policy briefs, model ordinances, and research reports drawing on methodologies used by the Government Finance Officers Association, the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, and the National League of Cities research arm. Regular publications include newsletters, annual reports, and white papers that reference data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the National Center for Health Statistics. Collaborative research projects have been undertaken with academic centers such as the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program and the Urban Institute.

Category:United States county associations