A bipartisan coalition of mayors – all from traditionally red states – are pushing for even more relief for cities than what was proposed by House Democrats in a new coronavirus funding package.

Mayors from cities such as Arlington, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, discussed the pain being felt at the local level during a phone call Tuesday hosted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. Rochester Hills, Michigan, Mayor Bryan Barnett, a Republican who is also the president of the conference, said Tuesday that most cities "have been entirely left behind by Washington's response" to the pandemic.

"Our message today is straightforward and crystal clear, and it is exceptionally urgent," Barnett said. "American cities are being devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic and we are calling on Congress to act."

Barnett added that the U.S. Conference of Mayors is asking for about $250 billion in relief from the federal government for cities. House Democrats on Tuesday released a new coronavirus relief package totalling $3 trillion, including $1 trillion for state and local governments. The House plans to vote on the package on Friday, but it is unlikely to get any support from Republicans.

The proposal includes $187.5 billion specifically for local governments, according to a statement released Tuesday by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, falling short of the group's initial ask.

"Mayors across the country are grateful for the support of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and applaud the House Democrats' efforts to support the nation's cities by providing much needed emergency fiscal assistance," Barnett said in the statement.

A joint survey released in April by the conference and the National League of Cities noted that while nearly 100% of cities with populations above 50,000 will experience revenue declines this year, only municipalities with more than 500,000 residents – 36 total – will receive direct funding from the $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund, which is part of the CARES Act.

"I can personally assure you that the pain we were feeling financially is just as real as that being experienced in New York and Los Angeles," said Dayton, Ohio, Mayor Nan Whaley, a Democrat.

The mayors conference on Monday launched its COVID-19 Fiscal Pain Tracker, which provides descriptions of budget deficits that cities "of all sizes" are facing. Officials in Palm Springs, California, expect that the city will lose about $78 million in revenue, while officials in Detroit expect a $184 million shortfall next year due to the pandemic.

Arlington, Texas, Mayor Jeff Williams, a Republican, noted during Tuesday's call that his city is projected to lose about $20 million in revenue between March and the end of September, at least in part due to its reliance on the sales tax. Miami Republican Mayor Francis Suarez said his city "ran into a freight train fiscally," seeing an immediate $45 million reduction in revenue.

Multiple mayors on the call warned that critical services provided at the local level are being hurt by the crisis, whether it's through budget cuts or staff layoffs and furloughs. Williams said these pains are important because residents "need our services now more than ever."

"I can say without this direct federal relief, basic public services are not going to be operational in our cities," added Louisville, Kentucky, Mayor Greg Fischer, a Democrat. "And without these basic public services being operational, there will be no economic recovery."

Government employment in the U.S. fell by nearly 1 million positions last month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.