Frequently Asked Questions
On March 27, 2020, the President signed the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security Act (CARES). Included in this $2 trillion relief bill, $139 billion was earmarked for states and local governments. These funds were distributed to the states and local jurisdictions based on population. Local governments over 500,000 got a direct payment from the Department of Treasury.
The expenditure of the CARES fund must comply with three criteria: (1) the expenditure has to be related to the COVID-19 public health emergency; (2) the funds must be spent by December 30, 2020; and (3) the expenditures were not already included in the fiscal year 2019-2020 budget.
Because the population of Tulsa County is over 500,000, Tulsa County received $113, 690,799.60 on April 23, 2020 from the Department of Treasury.
The guidance documents provided by the Department of Treasury do not provide an exhaustive list of what is or is not covered. That is left up to the reasonable judgment of the Board of County Commissioners. However, the county cannot use the funds to cover lost revenue, and the funds cannot be expended after December 30, 2020.
If the county has not expended all the funds by December 30, 2020, any remaining funds must be returned to the Department of Treasury.
Tulsa County follows the strict guidelines provided by the U.S. Treasury. While it is not a requirement to disperse funds to municipalities, the guidelines did allow Tulsa County to accept and grant funding requests from municipalities. Each municipality is required to document and report how the funds received meet the federal criteria as outlined by the CARES Act.
The CARES Act provides funds so that the county may be proactive in protecting the health and safety of its citizens and county employees from the COVID-19 public health emergency. Proposed projects should recognize that the functions of county government in this public health emergency fall into one or more of these categories: Protection/ Mitigation / Prevention / Detection / Precautions.
No. Congress, recognizing the broad number of local services that are provided, set aside over a dozen funds that are specifically designated for particular areas. For example, there are funds targeted for public safety, housing and homelessness, transit, airports, economic development, community development, hospitals, and many others. These aforementioned funds are to be used before any CARES funds are used. Local jurisdictions are to apply to these specific funds for specific purposes.
Find frequently asked questions about the TEDC RESET Program. Click here.
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