Gov. Phil Murphy released $60 million more of CARES Act funding for the Local Government Emergency Fund to help counties and municipalities that were excluded from the federal government’s direct CRF allocation plan, the state announced Friday.
Twelve of the state’s 21 counties will be getting money.
The funds will help to address necessary and unexpected expenditures necessitated by the pandemic, including increased costs in health benefits, health and human services, public safety, overtime, equipment, and supply expenditures.
The Department of Human Services also is providing up to $10 million to support the state’s County Boards of Social Services with COVID-related expenses such as technology to adapt to remote work, expanding to meet growing demand, and supplies and materials to meet COVID-19 health and safety standards.
Murphy, who made the announcement along alongside Congressmen Andy Kim (D-3rd District) and Donald Norcross (D-1st District).
“Local governments have stepped up to meet the needs of their communities throughout this pandemic, and we are strengthening their efforts today with $60 million dollars in direct relief,” Murphy said.
Here’s a breakdown of how much each county received — with a link to the funding for each municipality in that county.
Atlantic: $6.3 million
Link to awards for Atlantic municipalities
Burlington: $8.2 million
Link to awards for Burlington municipalities
Cape May: $1.3 million
Link to awards for Cape May municipalities
Cumberland: $6.4 million
Link to awards for Cumberland municipalities
Gloucester: $4.9 million
Link to awards for Gloucester municipalities
Hunterdon: $950,000
Link to awards for Hunterdon municipalities
Mercer: $12.6 million
Link to awards for Mercer municipalities
Morris: $8.4 million
Link to awards for Morris municipalities
Salem: $1.5 million
Link to awards for Salem municipalities
Somerset: $6.4 million
Link to awards for Somerset municipalities
Sussex: $1.3 million
Link to awards for Sussex municipalities
Warren: $1.8 million
Link to awards for Warren municipalities
Qualifying expenditures for the Local Government Emergency Fund include public safety and health-related expenses, COVID-19-related overtime, increased residential and health-related garbage collection and services, remote working technology, signage and information technology related to the COVID-19 response and recovery, and public health-related retrofit expenses for reopening.
The Local Government Emergency Fund allocation formula uses a variety of relevant metrics, including the municipal COVID-19 infection rate, fiscal stress, the Municipal Revitalization Index, population, and public safety and health and human services expenditures share of the budget to determine the amount of funds counties and municipalities receive.
Funds awarded may not be used for government revenue replacement, including the provision of assistance to meet tax obligations. Eligible expenditures must be incurred during the covered period between March 1-Dec. 30 of this year.
Lt. Gov. Sheila Y. Oliver, who also serves as commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, said the CRF funding is going to make a world of difference for short- and long-term municipal recovery efforts.
“DCA will work to distribute this relief funding equitably and fairly to our communities as we rebuild the state’s economy,” she said. “No one will be left behind.”
Congressman Norcross said it’s all about getting money into the hands of the people who need it.
“The CARES Act has delivered critical federal resources to our state and distributing this CRF funding to those county and local governments who have yet to receive relief will have a profound impact,” he said.
“These resources will provide our local governments with the vital funding needed to help cover unexpected costs from the pandemic and keep our first responders and other essential workers safe and on the job. I’ll continue to fight for New Jersey in Congress to ensure our communities get the tools and supplies we need to combat this outbreak and keep residents healthy and secure.”
Congressman Kim said he hopes more money will become available.
“Our state has been hit hard by this crisis, and we need to do everything we can to help our communities stay safe and healthy,” he said. “I’m proud to have voted to help deliver this funding back home, but the work isn’t done. I’ll keep working with my colleagues in Congress to find bipartisan solutions that will help New Jersey and won’t stop pressing until this pandemic is over and working people are back on their feet.”
