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Rep. Sweeney, Cuyahoga County Delegation urge Congress to give local governments flexibility when using relief funds

Bipartisan letter asks that funds be authorized to make up for lost revenue that puts jobs and essential constituent services at risk
July 29, 2020
Bride Rose Sweeney News

CUYAHOGA COUNTY—Today, Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) and 14 other Cuyahoga-area lawmakers sent a bipartisan letter to members of Congress urging them to give local governments the flexibility to use relief funds more broadly, and to authorize that those funds may be used to make up for lost revenue. TheCoronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress in March gave Ohio a total of $4.5 billion dollars for its state and local governments. The state still has a little over $2 billion dollars that have yet to be appropriated. It is the delegation’s hope that Congress will provide flexibility so that any remaining or additional funds might be used as effectively as possible.

“Ohio’s local governments are on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. They provide critical public services, but they continue to face major budgetary challenges due to the pandemic through no fault of their own,” said Rep. Sweeney. “We are asking Congress to make federal funding more flexible so that it’s more impactful and ensures that local governments can stay in this fight. This isn’t about politics— it’s about saving jobs and preventing cuts to vital services like public safety and even trash collection.”

State and local governments are facing significant revenue declines since the start of pandemic, particularly from shortfalls in sales taxes as many businesses limit or reduce their operations. At the same time, state and local government expenses have increased in order to ensure a continuity of services and mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

TheCARES Actdoes not currently allow state and local governments to use federal COVID-19 relief funds to fill shortfalls in revenues.

Editor’s Note: Letter attached.

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Rep. Sweeney, Cuyahoga County Delegation urge Congress to give local governments flexibility when using relief funds (PDF)