South Asheville News

U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) and Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at studying the impact of part-time home ownership on federal funding allocation in tourist communities. The bill, known as the Federal Parity for CASH Research Act, seeks to address the disparity in funding between tourist-centric communities and non-tourist communities.

Tourist communities, such as the mountains of western North Carolina, often attract a large number of part-time residents. These part-time residents, while not counted in the U.S. Census, utilize community resources and infrastructure. As a result, tourist communities receive less funding than is necessary to adequately support their population during peak seasons and keep up with infrastructure development in urban areas.

Congressman Edwards explains the motivation behind the legislation, stating, "More and more folks are choosing to buy homes in Western North Carolina because of our beautiful mountains, and these part-time residents are not counted in the United States Census despite using local roads, broadband, and other resources. While the solution is not to include part-time residents as a household if they claim full-time residency elsewhere, tourist communities should not have to be at a disadvantage when it comes to supporting their community’s needs."

The Federal Parity for CASH Research Act aims to address this issue by requiring the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on the effect of part-time home ownership on Census Bureau data used for federal fund allocations. If a negative relationship is found between part-time homeownership and insufficient allocation of federal funding, the GAO will provide recommendations to rectify the gaps in funding.

Congressman Davis emphasizes the importance of understanding the impact of seasonal residents on communities across America, stating, "Communities rely greatly on essential resources resulting from the U.S. Census count."

Over 350 federal programs rely on the U.S. Census Bureau's household counts to allocate more than $2.8 trillion in federal funding for states and communities. These funds are crucial for various community needs, including hospitals, roads, schools, housing, support for veterans, feeding children and families, and economic development.

The Federal Parity for CASH Research Act is receiving endorsements, including the support of the Project on Government Oversight (POGO). The legislation aims to address the funding disparities faced by tourist communities and ensure that they receive adequate resources to meet the needs of their population.

The full text of the legislation can be found [here](link to the legislation).