Joint Emergency Board met August 5, amid other joint committee meetings in preparation for the Second Special Session. Oregon received about $2.45 billion in federal CARES funds (CRF) of which $1.6 billion was to be passed to local jurisdictions. The rest of the $2.45 or $850 million is spread across nearly four dozen other recovery programs. The money can’t be used to make up lost revenue, according to the U.S. Department of Treasury. It can only be used to cover unbudgeted expenses due to COVID-19 that occur between March 1 and Dec. 30.

Counties and cities that had populations of more than 500,000 in 2019 were eligible for direct funding. All the other jurisdictions can only receive a share of funds through the state. Accordingly, Portland received around $114 million and Multnomah County around $105 million of direct payments.

Months ago, Senate Republican Leader Fred Girod (R-Stayton) issued a statement and wrote a letter to Governor Kate Brown asking for the remaining Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) from the federal government to be rightfully distributed to local governments. Oregon distributed around $247 million to the city of Portland, and Washington and Multnomah counties. Senator Girod said, “Local governments should have received roughly $625 million of the CRF, or 45%, of the remaining amount.” The funds have not been distributed. “Governor Brown is refusing to respond to the pleas of local governments across the state. It would appear that the governor is waiting for the election to go one way in the hopes of using the CRF as a slush fund for her own special interests and Portland. Stockpiling federal funds for political gain, while vulnerable Oregonians are suffering, is abysmal.”

According to reports from the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) where the funds are housed, local governments got only $200 million through reimbursable expenses. This leaves questions about what happened to $123,617,662 the Emergency Board has for local governments.

Cities and counties are strapped within their budgets, and that is being stretched with the increase in violent threats. President Trump has sent relief, why is Governor Brown delaying distribution?


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-08-07 19:54:10