CFAC Allocates CRF Funds to Counties

4 May 2020, by Seth Grigg Share :

The Coronavirus Financial Accountability Committee (CFAC) met last week and finalized a framework to provide reimbursement for coronavirus related expenses incurred by state agencies and local and tribal governments. Funds will be dispersed from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF). Under the framework adopted, state agencies are eligible for $57.7 million in reimbursements based on estimated expenses through December 30, 2020. Local and tribal government allocations are based on population.  Under the population-based apportionment, counties are eligible for $44.2 million in reimbursements, cities are eligible for $42.4 million in reimbursements, special purpose districts are eligible for $7.2 million in reimbursements, and tribal governments are eligible for $634,000 in reimbursements. Additional funds are available for extraordinary expenses incurred beyond the population-based apportionments. 

The program will be administered by the State Controller’s Office through its Transparent Idaho initiative. Entities applying for reimbursement will do so through a portal established on transparent.idaho.gov. Reimbursement of funds will be monitored and made public on the Transparent Idaho website. The State Controller’s Office hopes to have the application and tracking portal up and running by the end of this week.

Reimbursement eligibility will be based on guidance issued by the US Treasury. The guidance establishes six reimbursement categories:

  1. Medical expenses, including expenses of public hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, emergency medical services, and emergency medical transportation.
  2. Public health expenses, including procurement of personal protective equipment, sanitation supplies and services, disinfection of public facilities and public spaces, communication and enforcement of public health orders, or quarantining individuals.
  3. 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.
  4. Expenses in compliance with public health measures, including food delivery, telework capabilities for public employees, paid sick, family, and medical leave to enable compliance with COVID-19 public health precautions, operation of county jails, to comply with COVID-19 public health precautions, and care of homeless populations.
  5. Economic support expenses related to unemployment insurance costs due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
  6. Other reasonable COVID-19 related expenses necessary to the function of government.

Ineligible expenses include:

  1. Expenses for the state share of Medicaid.
  2. Any damages covered by insurance.
  3. Payroll or benefit expenses for employees whose work duties are not substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Please contact IAC Executive Director Seth Grigg with questions about the program. He can be reached by email (sgrigg@idcounties.org) or by phone (208.345.9126).