Title
Supervisor Hidahl and Supervisor Novasel recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign a letter encouraging Congress to approve additional federal relief funds to be directly sent to counties and not sent to the State of California for disbursement.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed the CARES Act, an economic relief package to provide assistance to families, workers, businesses, and state, local, and tribal governments to help mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The CARES Act required that payments only be used to cover expenses that:
1. Are necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to COVID-19;
2. Were not accounted for in the budget most recently approved as of March 27, 2020 for the State or government; and
3. Were incurred during the period that began March 1, 2020 and ends on December 30, 2020
Staff is also recommending that the use of additional federal relief funds should be able to be used in a flexible manner and provided directly to local government (e.g, counties and cities). Counties must be permitted to use the federal funds to cover COVID-19 related expenditures and lost revenues resulting from the pandemic.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose to not approve the signing of the letter.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no immediate financial impact resulting from the action. However, counties will benefit from any direct funding secured through efforts.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Obtain the Chair’s signature on the letter and return to the Chief Administrative Office to El Dorado County's congressional delegation.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Healthy Communities; Good Governance; Public Safety