Subject:
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Rollover of Federal CARES Act Funding
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EXPLANATION AND SUMMARY:
Due to the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), states of emergency were declared at the federal, state, and local government levels in mid-March 2020.
On March 27, 2020 Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities Act (CARES Act) to provide support directly to state, local, and tribal governments to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Governments with populations greater than 500,000 could apply for direct federal payment of CARES Act funds. Fairfax County was the only jurisdiction in the Commonwealth, aside from the Commonwealth itself, to receive direct funding. The county passed a proportionate amount of direct funding to the Town. The Town's portion was $2.886 million based on its July 1, 2018 US Census population; funds from Fairfax County were transferred to the Town of Vienna on April 29, 2020.
On June 1, 2020, Council approved a spending plan for the $2.886 million allocation directly from Fairfax County. This Council action is to request a rollover of the unspent funds as of June 30, 2020.
Guidance on eligible expenses for CARES funds continues to trickle in. Discussions have continued regarding appropriate uses with finance officers statewide and also with Fairfax County CARES staff.
Since Council's approval on June 1, staff has determined that we can charge some public safety (traffic and patrol) and sanitation salaries and taxes directly to CARES funds. We have reallocated funds to salaries from PPE and cleaning expenses, which were adjusted down once most summer parks and recreation programs were canceled. Also, because the Town participated in the county's RISE business grant program, we did not need to spend consulting funds to develop a business grant program. A schedule of the estimate of funds spent, amount to roll forward, and line item allocation changes since the June 1 approval is attached.
Staff estimates that by June 30, we will h...
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