Columbia Mayor Brian Treece on CARES Act funding: ‘We’re in this on our own’
COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ)
The Columbia City Council said Boone County remains one of four counties, out of Missouri's 114, that has not distributed CARES Act funding to municipalities.
City leaders have asked the county for about $14-15 million but the money hasn't been approved.
Columbia Mayor Brian Treece said the city and the county need to be in this together, but that hasn't been the case.
"I came to the realization, several months ago, that we're in this on our own at this point. In absent state or federal leadership, we have to make the best decisions we can with the resources we have."
In May, Boone County received $21 million in funding, which has to be spent by Dec. 31.
"About 85% of Boone County's population is within the city limits of Columbia," Treece said.
The funding would go toward a variety of items, including the police department, health department, visitors bureau, among others.
During Thursday's meeting, Columbia/Boone County Health Director Stephanie Browning said that if costs run through the end of January, the department will need more funding.
City officials said it's unclear what funding will look like in 2021, but added it needs help now.
"We've made a request to the county for capita distribution of some $14 million of that $21 million," Treece said. "We've received about $2 million for contract tracing, but that doesn't even begin to reimburse for the out-of-pocket (costs)."
Treece said the city needs to be grateful for the funding it does have, but that is not enough.
"When you ask Boone County, get in line behind the hospitals, the school district, the other municipalities and the county's needs," the mayor said.
The Boone County Commission has said in the past it is trying to be cautious in the distribution of funding so that all spending is eligible in both the state and the federal government's eyes.
The county does not have a CARES Act application available, yet.
However, there are different rules and guidelines for state and federal funding.
The city said it receives some CARES funding directly but the rest of the funding is funneled through the state.
"They all have different rules that we can spend them by," said City Manager John Glascock. "So it takes an army, just to figure out what you can use them for."
Karl Skala, Columbia Ward 3 Councilman, said it is frustrating to not move forward.
"It's almost as if you become a protestor, a governmental protestor protesting some of the other governmental entities. Very frustrating," Skala said.
