Auditor announces additional COVID-19 aid

$6.668 million to be disbursed, Galloway reports

Lake County Auditor Christopher Galloway announced this week that the county has distributed $6.668 million in additional COVID-19 aid au- thorized by Ohio

House Bill 481 and provided for by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

Galloway said the second round of CARES Act money, which amounts to 50 percent of the first round, was released by the state Controlling Board last week.

“My office received the money on Aug. 28 and we processed the distribution same-day so our local cities, villages and townships received the funding on Aug. 31,” he added.

To receive the aid, cities, villages and townships were required to pass a resolution and submit it to the Lake County Auditor’s Office. Once the resolutions were received, the city, township or village received its portion within seven days.

No additional action was required of any Lake County community, Galloway noted.

The same guidelines for usage and reporting that apply to round one funding, apply to the second round of funding.

In order for a local government to qualify for the grant, expenditures must be unexpected and be directly

tied to the COVID-19 response, Galloway confirmed. Expenses associated with acquiring, distributing and disposing of personal protective equipment, sanitization and disinfection of public spaces and jails, and expenses related to telework are just some of the authorized uses of the grant money.

Eligible unexpected COVID-19 expenditures must occur between March 1 and Dec. 28. Local governments receiving grants

have until Oct. 15 encumber its funds.

If funds remain unencumbered on Oct. 15, local governments must return the money to the Lake County Auditor’s Office.

If grant money is returned or unclaimed, the office will redistribute the remaining funds to eligible cities, townships and villages on Oct. 22.

Galloway said any funds unencumbered by Dec. 28 must be returned by the local jurisdictions directly to the state.

Galloway