Before an engaged audience of city officials during GMA’s 2025 Annual Convention, GMA CEO and executive director Larry Hanson had a wide-ranging conversation with Clarence Anthony, CEO and executive director of the National League of Cities (NLC). The two leaders discussed ongoing federal policy challenges and the power of collective, city-focused advocacy.
A Record of Results Through Partnership
Hanson opened by thanking NLC for securing direct American Rescue Plan Act (APRA) payments for every U.S. city, the “first time in history that every town in America received direct funding… and NLC really led that effort.”
Anthony returned the compliment, calling GMA “one of the most active state municipal leagues in the nation.” He noted that Georgia has a recent NLC past president in Union City Mayor Vince Williams and will send Savannah Mayor Van Johnson to the top spot in 2026.
Protecting Low-Cost Infrastructure Financing
The discussion turned to the potential removal of the tax-exemption on municipal-bond interest. Anthony reminded officials that tax-exempt municipal bonds aren’t “one of those sexy things that all of us say we need in our community…but it’s one of the most important tools you will use as municipal leaders.”
Hanson noted that NLC’s leadership on this issue, along with the work of GMA, it’s members, and other state leagues, has preserved the tax-exemption for now.
Possible Loss of Federal Grant Funding
The administration’s efforts to re-evaluate infrastructure grant funding emerged as a concern for cities. Hanson noted new administrations often “place a pause on previously approved grants and project funding.”
Anthony commented “that they [Congress] may claw back those dollars from you, and we don't want to see that happen.” He urged city leaders to “talk to President Trump’s administration and the agencies, your congressional members, and say, we understand that you may have a new direction for where you want to take the country…but we need certainty.” Local officials, he said, must “recognize your influence and power in Washington DC.”
Promoting Direct Allocations for Transportation Funding
With the surface-transportation law expiring in 2026, Hanson hit on the lack of direct transportation funding to cities. “Eighty percent of the roads in the state of Georgia are locally owned…but only 11% of the federal transportation dollars come directly to local governments.”
Asked how to promote direct funding based on a formula, Anthony replied, “The bottom line is that it’s not just you as municipal leaders that need to be involved in this,” urging alliances with local chambers, economic development groups, and counties.
He singled out Georgia Rep. Mike Collins, who’s on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee: “Talk to him about how important the investment is…[that] transportation dollars are essential to making sure that your state, and your city, prosper.”
Responding to Regulatory Challenges
The discussion turned to regulatory challenges. Hanson noted that there is legislation addressing definitions for the "Waters of the United States” that would be helpful to cities.
When asked about PFAS, or forever chemicals, Anthony was blunt about the impact on city governments. “PFAS is one of those things where local governments didn't cause it, but the expectation that we're gonna clean it up and the cost of the requirements is something that we cannot let occur.”
He did share that some movement on this issue to the benefit of local governments had occurred and assured everyone that NLC is making a concerted effort to advocate the city position to congressional staff.
Strengthening, But Not Shattering FEMA
Hanson noted that many of Georgia’s cities are still awaiting Hurricane Helene reimbursements and are counting on “FEMA for disaster response and mitigation planning.” Proposed FEMA overhauls are worrisome, he added. Anthony’s response was again for cities to share the importance of FEMA resources after a disaster. “We need to work together to make sure that FEMA is strong and strengthened, not broke apart.”
Leadership in a Time of Uncertainty
Closing the session, Anthony returned to GMA’s 2025 convention theme, The Power of Positive Leadership, and issued a charge:
“I hope that you really took that theme seriously. In America right now, we need municipal leaders that are positive about what they're doing. We know that we are in a time of uncertainty…We must stand up and have positive leadership. We [have] got to stop this negative incivility that we have in our nation.”
Reflecting on the dialogue, Hanson said the exchange proved “Georgia’s cities make the most progress when we work as partners with NLC and our fellow state leagues.” He pointed to Anthony’s pledge that he is “partisan toward cities,” adding that the same mindset—applied jointly by NLC, GMA and every city in Georgia—“turns shared priorities into national results.”