Subject:
Title
Resolution Directing Staff to Develop Programs to Address Economic Impacts to Businesses and Individuals in Pinellas County and Authorizing the County Administrator to Sign Certification Form and Submit to United States Department of Treasury to Receive Coronavirus Relief Fund Payment.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Adoption of a resolution that will: (1) direct staff to develop programs that will provide critical financial assistance to businesses and individuals who are hurting through no fault of their own due to the economic impacts of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; and (2) authorize the County Administrator to sign the certification form required to receive Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act payment and submit the form to United States Department of Treasury (Treasury) before the deadline at 11:59 p.m. EDT on April 17, 2020.
• Financial support programs will assist small businesses, adults, and families in Pinellas County who are negatively impacted due to the business closures and disruptions caused by COVID-19.
o Financial support program for businesses may provide rapid payments directly to small businesses to partially address loss of revenue due to COVID-19 and to support retaining employees. Small businesses represent over 90% of all businesses in Pinellas County and are critical to the community. Payments would help with necessary expenses like payroll, rent, and utilities. Similar programs have been implemented or planned by cities of St. Petersburg, Tampa, Largo, and Tarpon Springs.
o Financial support program for adults and families may help those most in need who have lost income due to unemployment or other COVID-19 related factors by providing direct payments for such necessary expenses as rent and utilities.
• Projected CARES Act payment from Treasury is $170,129,283.00.
• Treasury has not yet published information clarifying allowable uses of the funds, which the County intends to use for the financial support programs if permissible.
• Staff will bring the financial support programs to the Board for consideration and approval at the earliest possible Board meeting after development of the programs and confirmation that they are permissible uses of the CARES Act payment.
• A budget resolution will be brought forward at the same meeting to recognize and appropriate these funds in the FY20 Budget.
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Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to ensure a safe and secure community
2.3 Be a facilitator, convener, and purchaser of services for those in need
2.4 Support programs that seek to prevent and remedy the causes of homelessness and move individuals and families from homelessness to permanent housing
Foster Continual Economic Growth and Vitality
4.2 Invest in communities that need the most
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources
Summary:
Summary
Adopting the resolution will provide staff direction in developing financial assistance programs for businesses, individuals, and families in Pinellas County. It will also ensure that Pinellas County receives funding from the CARES Act that it intends to use to support such programs. While Treasury has not yet provided clarification regarding allowable uses of the CARES Act payment, staff will immediately develop programs for Board consideration to enable rapid implementation after evaluating compliance with Treasury guidance.
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Background Information:
On March 27, 2020, the CARES Act was enacted to provide emergency relief to families and small businesses that have been impacted by the coronavirus. Through the $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund, the CARES Act provides for payments to State, Local, and Tribal governments navigating the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Amounts paid to States, the District of Columbia, U.S. Territories, and eligible units of local government are based on population as provided in the CARES Act. The CARES Act directs Treasury to use U.S. Census Bureau data for the most recent year for which data is available. A unit of local government eligible for receipt of direct payment includes a county, municipality, town, township, village, parish, borough, or other unit of general government below the State level with a population that exceeds 500,000. Eligible local governments must submit the certification required by the CARES Act to Treasury by 11:59 p.m. EDT on April 17.
The CARES Act requires that the payments from the Coronavirus Relief Fund only be used to cover expenses that:
(1) are necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19);
(2) were not accounted for in the budget most recently approved as of March 27, 2020 (the date of enactment of the CARES Act) for the State or government; and
(3) were incurred during the period that begins on March 1, 2020, and ends on December 30, 2020.
Additional information on eligible uses of Fund disbursements by governments will be posted by the Treasury as it becomes available. According to the National Association of Counties, this additional information is anticipated to be released by Treasury on April 24.
Fiscal Impact:
Based on Florida Association of Counties (FAC) analysis, the projected payment to Pinellas County from the Coronavirus Relief Fund is $170,129,283.00. Receipt of payment is anticipated later this month. A budget resolution will be brought forward at a subsequent meeting to recognize and appropriate these funds in the FY20 Budget.
Staff Member Responsible:
Bill Berger, Director, Office of Management & Budget
Partners:
United States Department of Treasury
Attachments:
Resolution
Certification Form
CARES Act
FAC Analysis of Estimated Payments for Eligible Local Governments in Florida