Welcome to the 2020 annual report from the North Carolina League of Municipalities. We've taken a different approach this year with catchy visuals and summaries to provide clarity to some of the work the league performed for its members in fiscal year twenty nineteen, twenty twenty. And with some important context about the league itself. You can press play on a fun video telling the story of how the league grew into the expansive membership organization you know today. This video was produced by the league's communications division, whose work garnered more than half a million social media impressions, wrote or edited more than 60 in-depth articles for Southern City Magazine, and kept municipalities informed about the growing COVID nineteen pandemic as new information came to light. The league's government affairs team saw more than 250 appearances in print media promoting the goals and welfare of cities and towns. That included many op eds on the importance of stable local revenues during the pandemic, which affected revenue sources including the vital sales tax. A big subject of league lobbying and grassroots work that led to important financial relief specifically for municipalities. This was also the subject of several round tables that the government affairs team arranged with members of Congress, as well as direct calls between municipal officials and governor Roy Cooper. You'll find more information about the work of the government affairs team in this report. The league's risk management services recorded an important year of work with members as you'll see in this report. The workers compensation staff covered 464 towns and managed more than 1,800 claims. Its risk control unit held more than 1,650 consultations and conducted critical classes on timely subjects like cyber security and law enforcement use of force. More than half a million dollars in body armor and wellness grants went out to league members through the risk control unit. The health benefits trust, the league's self insured member governed insurance company specializing in the needs of cities and towns, covered the lives of more than 8,500 people. Responding to the COVID nineteen pandemic, the Health Benefits Trust waived co pays and deductibles for the telemedicine service Teladoc and for primary and urgent care visits with COVID like symptoms. The property and casualty insurance division covered 401 municipalities and managed more than 2,400 claims during the fiscal year. It was a busy calendar as well for the league's business and membership development service department, which held nearly 150 meetings and trainings, including essentials of municipal government classes. This department helped to collect delinquent debts totaling beyond $41,200,000 for more than 350 cities and towns. The legal department clocked a busy year as well. In one important case in February, the Supreme Court of North Carolina ruled in favor of the town of Oak Island to allow the town to continue collecting certain sewer fees under a local act. This decision marked marked another great success in the League of Municipalities long standing amicus program, where the League performs direct judicial advocacy with legal briefs filed in support of the municipal position. As you can tell by now, it was a successful fiscal year for the league and for the cities and towns that make it. Thank you for sharing in this hard but vital work for the state as a whole. We are truly working as one to advance all.