Subject:
Title
Resolution approving expanded Pinellas CARES programs.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Adoption of a resolution approving expanded Pinellas CARES programs to address continuing impacts due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
• Based on ongoing monitoring of actual and projected expenditures, CARES Act funds are anticipated to be available for the following expansions of existing grant programs.
a.) Nonprofit Attractions and Cultural Facilities Grant Program supporting nonprofit arts and cultural organizations that have been impacted by COVID-19 related closures and experienced economic damages as a result.
b.) Expanded Local Government COVID-19 Expense Reimbursement to provide flexibility in reimbursing response and recovery expenses not anticipated to be eligible for FEMA Public Assistance.
• Pinellas County received $170.1 million from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Coronavirus Relief Fund. Funds must be expended by December 30, 2020.
• Pinellas County moved quickly to direct CARES Act funds to address immediate impacts then engaged the community for broad input on CARES Act fund uses as impacts from COVID-19 continued.
• Through Pinellas CARES programs, the County provided direct financial assistance to more than 11,500 individuals, families and businesses impacted by COVID-19, established a local personal protective equipment stockpile, operated community testing sites, and bolstered nonprofit and public health response efforts countywide.
Body
Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to ensure a safe and secure community
2.2 Be a facilitator, convene and purchaser of services for those in need
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and our Customers
5.1 Maximize partner relationship and public outreach
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources
5.3 Ensure effective and efficient delivery of County services and support
Summary:
Summary
Adopting the resolution will provide staff direction to implement expanded Pinellas CARES programs due to the COVID-19 public health emergency and to expend the CARES Act funds before the December 30, 2020 deadline.
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Background Information:
On March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to be of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant an emergency declaration for all states. Before and since the declaration, the US Congress has passed four federal acts to provide supplemental appropriations and support nationwide response to the pandemic.
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (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 were based on population as provided in the CARES Act. 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. Through the CARES Act, Pinellas County received a direct relief payment of $170,129,280 on April 22.
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 guidance on eligible uses of Fund disbursements by governments and FAQs were issued by the Treasury on April 22 and have been periodically updated, most recently on September 2 (Guidance) and October 19 (FAQs).
On April 28, 2020, the Board of County Commissioners (Board) adopted Resolutions No. 20-36 and 20-37 approving the Pinellas CARES Financial Assistance and Small Business Grant programs, respectively to address immediate community impacts to households and businesses.
On July 7, 2020, the Board adopted resolutions 20-59 and 20-60 approving expanded and additional Pinellas CARES programs.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding to support expanded programs has been identified from the County’s CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund allocation of $170,129,280 based on updated actual and projected expenditures. Appropriation for the expenditure of these funds is included in the FY21 Adopted Budget.
Staff Member Responsible:
Aubrey Phillips, Strategic Performance Manager, Office of Management and Budget
Partners:
U.S. Treasury Department
Attachments:
Resolution
Presentation