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Counties push DeSantis to release $1.3B in federal funds to aid communities amid pandemic

ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida counties are pushing Gov. Ron DeSantis to release nearly $1.3 billion in federal money to help local officials keep their communities afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.

Twelve Florida counties -- including Brevard County, Polk County, Orange County and Volusia County -- have received $2.47 billion from the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the CARES Act.

The remaining $1.275 billion remains unspent.

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“The CARES Act is an opportunity for these counties and cities to have additional resources that are needed in a global pandemic. So it is right to make sure they have those resources,” Cragin Mosteller said. “It should not become a battle between governments. This is the federal government stepping in to make sure the citizens are cared for. And the state is holding onto that, rather than making sure that those funds go to our communities so they can take care of our citizens.”

A DeSantis administration official told the New Service of Florida that “everyone’s been trying to get this money out as quickly as possible.”

The state wants to ensure that the funds are going to be properly distributed and used, an official said.

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“Anything that a city or a county misuses these funds on … we are responsible for repaying it to the federal government,” an official said. “That’s been the biggest concern that we’ve had, to make sure we get it right.”

The federal law allows state and local governments to make payments for programs that “are necessary expenditures incurred” because of the public health emergency “were not accounted for in the budget most recently approved as of the date of the enactment” of the act on March 27 and were incurred between March 1 and Dec. 30.

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The Treasury Department said the money could be used for “second-order effects” of the pandemic, “such as by providing economic support to those suffering from employment or business interruptions due to COVID-19-related business closures.”

Small counties are frustrated that neighboring large counties received the federal money more than 60 days ago while “their economies are being totally decimated,” said Chris Doolin, a lobbyist.

“People are hurting. There are needs now,” Doolin said.

The New Service of Florida contributed to this report.