Dolan Announces Ohio Senate Authorization of $350 Million in Relief Funding for Ohio's Local Communities
May 6, 2020
Matt Dolan News
COLUMBUS— State Senator Matt Dolan (R-Chagrin Falls) today announced that the Ohio Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 310, authorizing the distribution of $350 million of federal CARES Act funding to local communities across Ohio for COVID-19 pandemic-related expenses.
“The re-opening of Ohio’s economy requires many moving parts. An important part is assuring local governments have the resources to maintain safe and crucial operations,” said Dolan. “Senate Bill 310 directs much-needed funds to counties and local governments for the reimbursement and expenditures of significant medical, public health and safety operations as they battle this pandemic on the front lines.”
This funding will be distributed based on the proportion of Local Government Fund revenue allocated to them in 2019.
“Items such as costs of testing, acquisition of personal protective equipment, disinfects, technology upgrades, overtime costs for safety and health officials are some of the allowable uses of the CARES Act dollars,” Dolan explained.
The Ohio Mayors Alliance, County Commissioners Association of Ohio, Ohio Municipal League, Ohio Township Association, Ohio Mayors & City Managers Association, Cuyahoga County Mayors & City Managers Association and Northeast Ohio First Suburbs Consortium Council of Governments voiced their support for S.B. 310. Read the letters of support by clicking here and here. The funding authorized today excludes Ohio’s six jurisdictions with populations over 500,000 because they already qualify for a direct payment from the CARES Act; this includes the city of Columbus and Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Montgomery and Summit county governments. Municipalities and townships within these counties, however, are still eligible for the funding appropriated in S.B. 310.
The legislation passed with an emergency clause, making the bill effective immediately upon being signed by the governor. The bill now moves to the Ohio House for consideration. For more information on S.B. 310 click here.
“The re-opening of Ohio’s economy requires many moving parts. An important part is assuring local governments have the resources to maintain safe and crucial operations,” said Dolan. “Senate Bill 310 directs much-needed funds to counties and local governments for the reimbursement and expenditures of significant medical, public health and safety operations as they battle this pandemic on the front lines.”
This funding will be distributed based on the proportion of Local Government Fund revenue allocated to them in 2019.
“Items such as costs of testing, acquisition of personal protective equipment, disinfects, technology upgrades, overtime costs for safety and health officials are some of the allowable uses of the CARES Act dollars,” Dolan explained.
The Ohio Mayors Alliance, County Commissioners Association of Ohio, Ohio Municipal League, Ohio Township Association, Ohio Mayors & City Managers Association, Cuyahoga County Mayors & City Managers Association and Northeast Ohio First Suburbs Consortium Council of Governments voiced their support for S.B. 310. Read the letters of support by clicking here and here. The funding authorized today excludes Ohio’s six jurisdictions with populations over 500,000 because they already qualify for a direct payment from the CARES Act; this includes the city of Columbus and Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Montgomery and Summit county governments. Municipalities and townships within these counties, however, are still eligible for the funding appropriated in S.B. 310.
The legislation passed with an emergency clause, making the bill effective immediately upon being signed by the governor. The bill now moves to the Ohio House for consideration. For more information on S.B. 310 click here.