Area counties will receive close to $30 million in additional federal money to help with COVID-19 recovery and response.
While millions have already been distributed in the most recent round, some county officials say they are hesitant to start spending that money because of a lack of guidance from the federal government on the rules.
“We are seeking legal counsel on what is a qualifying (expenditure) and what is now,” said Jesse Roy, Ripley County presiding commissioner. “We do not want to disperse any monies until we are sure they fall within the parameters of what is allowed.”
Some counties were required to return some earlier COVID relief funds after inappropriate expenditures, Roy said, explaining that the rules changed over the course of several months with the first round of funding.
On May 10, the U.S. Department of Treasury released guidance on the State and Local Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Fund (Recovery Fund), part of the American Rescue Plan Act.
The bill includes $65.1 billion in direct, flexible aid to every county in America, as well as other crucial investments in local communities, according to the National Association of Counties.
Ripley County and others are working with an attorney from the Missouri Commissioners Association, who will help them interpret the final opinion when it is released by the U.S. Treasury Department, Roy said.
Ripley County’s funds are being held by the Treasury until the county is ready to accept them, he explained. The county has already received information on possible projects including water and sewer upgrades, a jail expansion and broadband improvements, Roy said.
The State and Local Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Funds legislation, part of the American Rescue Plan Act, was signed into law by President Biden on March 11.
The bill includes $65.1 billion in direct, flexible aid to every county in America, as well as other crucial investments in local communities, including $1.5 billion over two years for public lands counties, NACO reports.
Area disbursements are to include (approximate), according to NACO:
Butler County — $8.2 million
Stoddard County — $5.6 million
Dunklin County — $5.7 million
Wayne County — $2.5 million
Ripley County — $2.6 million
Carter County — $1.2 million
Reynolds County — $1.2 million
NACO has released the following information on five primary areas of spending focus for the funds:
• Support public health response: Fund COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral healthcare and certain public health and safety staff.
• Address negative economic impacts: Respond to economic harms to workers, families, small businesses, and nonprofits, or impacted industries and re-hiring of public sector workers.
• Replace public sector revenue loss: Use funds to provide government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue experienced due to the pandemic.
• Premium pay for essential workers: Offer additional support to those who have and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical infrastructure. Funds can be used retroactively back to Jan. 27, 2020.
• Water, sewer and broadband infrastructure: Make necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, invest in wastewater and stormwater infrastructure and provide unserved or underserved locations with new or expanded broadband access.