County to get more than $2M

Geauga County Auditor Charles E. Walder reports that Geauga County has received its allocation, totaling over $2 million in Coronavirus Relief Fund money designed to aid local governments faced with COVID-19 expenses.

Walder’s office expected to begin the distribution of these funds this week, according to a news release.

The county and local governments are allocated a portion of these federal CARES Act grant funds and they are being administered through the Ohio Office of Budget and Management, Walder said.

Eligible local governments are required to have their legislative body pass a resolution requesting the funds from the county auditor before they can receive their share of the distribution.

Currently, the county, two villages and two townships have submitted resolutions, Walder said, noting that once the required resolution is provided to his office, the local government will receive its distribution. Unexpected COVID-19 expenditures after March 1 through Dec. 28 are eligible for consideration under the grant program. Local governments are encouraged to work with legal counsel to be sure they are compliant with the restrictions of this program.

“Once a participant receives their funds, they have until Oct. 15, 2020, to encumber the funds appropriately within federal grant guidelines,” Walder said in a news release. “Any money unencumbered at that time must be returned to my office for redistribution to those local government participants who have spent all of their CARES Act distribution.

“After redistribution, participating local governments have until Dec. 28 to expend all money or return the unused funds to the State Treasury,” Walder concluded. “Through teamwork and responsible fiscal management, together we are moving forward to protect our communities.”