Governor Kelly Announces the Transfer of Direct Aid Funds to Kansas Counties
$400 Million from the CARES Act – Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF)
TOPEKA—Governor Laura Kelly today announced the Office of Recovery’s disbursement of CARES Act funds to Kansas counties.
As part of her administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Kelly is directing resources to county officials and local administrators to cover COVID-19 expenses for communities across Kansas.
“We are putting these funds directly into the hands of our county governments and offering them the flexibility to direct the money in ways that are specific to their community needs,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Keeping our economy open and prioritizing the health and safety of Kansans is our goal, and these funds will relieve some of the burden Kansans are facing.”
Governor Kelly’s SPARK Taskforce and Office of Recovery have been assessing statewide needs for the second and third rounds of CRF investments.
Following the guidance of the U.S. Treasury to deliver funds fairly, timely, and effectually, $400 million of the State’s CRF allocation was distributed to local governments yesterday.
County governments can use the funds for reimbursement of the unbudgeted costs of expenditures incurred due to COVID-19. Additionally, county governments will be able to spend the remaining amount of their allotment by submitting a direct aid plan to the Office of Recovery by August 15, 2020. The direct aid plan allows counties to prepare for any possible increase in COVID-19 cases in the future.
The Office of Recovery has provided county officials with webinars, templates, and other resources to assist them in their direct aid plan preparations. Counties that do not submit direct aid plans will be required to return funds to the State.
“The SPARK Taskforce continues to address the needs of the people of Kansas,” Office of Recovery Executive Director Cheryl Harrison-Lee said. “Their expertise is invaluable as the Office of Recovery readies itself for the arduous task of administering and supporting this undertaking.”
The SPARK Taskforce will meet next week to hear SPARK Agency Work Group proposals for the statewide investment of Round II CRF dollars. The SPARK Steering Committee will convene on Monday, July 20, at 1:00 p.m. to review proposals. The SPARK Executive Committee will convene on Wednesday, July 22, at 11:00 a.m. to approve items for the State Finance Council’s review and final passage.
More information about the SPARK Taskforce and the tools provided to counties can be found at covid.ks.gov/spark-recovery-office/.