Kunze Announces Passage of $650M in Pandemic Relief for Ohio's Communities
September 2, 2020
Stephanie Kunze News
COLUMBUS— State Senator Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard) today announced the Senate's unanimous passage of Senate Bill 357, providing an additional $650 million of federal CARES Act funding to local communities across Ohio for COVID-19 pandemic-related expenses.
The funding in Senate Bill 357 will be made available to counties, municipalities and townships for necessary expenses associated with the current public health emergency and will be distributed on a per capita basis. This funding excludes Ohio’s six jurisdictions with populations over 500,000 because they already qualify for direct payments 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 this legislation. Nearly $8 million will be sent to townships, villages, and cities across the 16th Senate District, represented by Kunze. Earlier this year the City of Columbus received over $156 million in direct Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) from the federal government and Franklin County received over $76 million.
“This legislation continues to ensure that local communities on the front lines of Ohio's recovery have critical resources available to them. I urge the House to act quickly on this bill so they can get needed funds as soon as possible,” said Kunze.
Senate Bill 357 will be the third round of coronavirus relief funding for counties, municipalities and townships following the state Controlling Board’s recent authorization of $175 million and the General Assembly’s approval in June of $350 million through House Bill 481. The legislation includes an emergency clause, making the bill effective immediately upon being signed by the governor. The bill will now be sent to the Ohio House for consideration.
The funding in Senate Bill 357 will be made available to counties, municipalities and townships for necessary expenses associated with the current public health emergency and will be distributed on a per capita basis. This funding excludes Ohio’s six jurisdictions with populations over 500,000 because they already qualify for direct payments 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 this legislation. Nearly $8 million will be sent to townships, villages, and cities across the 16th Senate District, represented by Kunze. Earlier this year the City of Columbus received over $156 million in direct Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) from the federal government and Franklin County received over $76 million.
“This legislation continues to ensure that local communities on the front lines of Ohio's recovery have critical resources available to them. I urge the House to act quickly on this bill so they can get needed funds as soon as possible,” said Kunze.
Senate Bill 357 will be the third round of coronavirus relief funding for counties, municipalities and townships following the state Controlling Board’s recent authorization of $175 million and the General Assembly’s approval in June of $350 million through House Bill 481. The legislation includes an emergency clause, making the bill effective immediately upon being signed by the governor. The bill will now be sent to the Ohio House for consideration.