The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners approved a modified Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) Plan on Sept. 10 that outlines the proposed use of $12.2 million allocated to the county by the General Assembly. The County submitted the revised plan to the N.C. Pandemic Recovery Office by the Sept. 15 deadline.
The money is part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Stability (CARES) Act federal funding. The County was allocated $5.7 million in Round 1 and $6.5 million in Round 2. The County has already reported $869,898 in actual CRF funding expenses.
The legislation directed that at least 25% of the total amount of funding, or $3,055,096, go to municipalities. Using a per capita formula for the municipalities that completed the required application, the City of Fayetteville will receive $2.7 million; the Town of Hope Mills will be granted $202,163; and the Town of Spring Lake will receive $153,130. In a late submission, the Town of Stedman requested and will receive $2,050 to install a physical barrier.
All funding must be spent by Dec. 30, 2020, and monthly reports will be due to the state. The federal guidelines require that funds must be used for COVID-19 response. CRF money can be used for payroll expenses for “public safety, public health, health care, human services, and similar employees whose services are substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency.”
Staff recommended that for reporting and accounting purposes, approximately $8.3 million of the funding be charged out to the County’s payroll expenses for COVID-19 mitigation and response and for the payout of the federally mandated Family First Coronavirus Recovery Act leave (Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Emergency Family Medical Leave).
The redirected payroll funding will be used to address internal County government and community COVID needs. County departments have requested $4.8 million for technology, office and workspace modifications, protective barriers and other expenses related to COVID response.
For community funding, $250,000 was allocated for community-based organizations to set up virtual learning centers for school-age children. The county will be issuing a Request for Proposal and information on how to apply for the funding.
In addition, the commissioners approved allocating $500,000 to the 20 volunteer fire departments to purchase personal protective equipment, defibrillators, and disinfecting misting sprayers.
“On behalf of the fire service, we are very, very appreciative of this funding and it will do a lot of good things for our citizens,” said Freddy Johnson, president of the Cumberland County Fire Chiefs’ Association.