TML Coronavirus Update

Urgent Updates

Has the governor’s office made some stimulus money available to all cities?

Yes. The governor’s office posted the following press release this afternoon (April 15). Please see the next question and answer for additional information about the funding. 

“Governor Greg Abbott today announced that his Public Safety Office (PSO) will provide $38 million in federal funds to local units of government in Texas. These funds come from the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program authorized by the federal Emergency Appropriations for Coronavirus Health Response and Agency Operations Act.

Cities may use this funding to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus. Allowable projects and purchases include, but are not limited to, overtime, equipment, supplies, training, travel expenses, and addressing the medical needs of inmates in local and tribal jails and detention centers.

‘These funds will help our local governments respond to COVID-19 and provide the resources that our communities need,’ said Governor Abbott. ‘I am grateful to our federal partners for making this crucial financial support available to the state of Texas.’

Examples of allowable costs include:

-Personnel Overtime (Peace Officer, Jailer, Correctional Officer, Medical, and other Essential Staff)

-Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

-Supplies (i.e. gloves, masks, sanitizer, disinfectant)

-Temporary Staff

-Medical care for inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19

-Any other costs associated with the implementation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Guidance documents, specifically:

1. Interim Guidance on Management of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Correctional and Detention Facilities

2. What Law Enforcement Personnel Need to Know about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

3. Interim Guidance for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems and 911 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) for COVID-19 in the United States

4. Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Interested jurisdictions may access the Public Safety Office’s eGrants grant management website at https://eGrants.gov.texas.gov to register and apply for funding.”

Where do the funds mentioned in the press release come from and will my city get a portion of them?

The $38 million is a component of the CARES Act. It consists of funds allocated by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs. Another $24 million is allocated directly by the federal government to certain cities. The direct allocation is for cities that are eligible for a direct award from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), and those cities should first seek funds directly through BJA. The list of local allocations for direct BJA awards to Texas jurisdictions can be found here, and the federal solicitation is available here. Applications are due to BJA by May 29, 2020.

The remaining $42 million (of which the governor has made $38 million available to local governments) appears to be available for all cities on a competitive basis. Cities should apply for those funds using the eGrants grant management website. The governor’s office has prepared detailed information on the program. To access that information, go to https://egrants.gov.texas.gov/fundopp.aspx and click on the announcement for the “Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding (CESF) Program.”

What can I do as a mayor (or any other city official) if I missed the deadline to sign on to the letter to the Texas congressional delegation asking for additional direct funding for cities?

If you did not have a chance to submit your name to be included in the letter to the Texas congressional delegation, we urge you to visit with your congressional office to offer your support for “Phase 4 funding” to all Texas cities. If you are unsure of who represents you in Washington, D.C., or need additional guidance, please contact Monty Wynn with TML’s legislative department at monty@tml.org.

Further Updates

Does the federal CARES Act stimulus bill provide funds for municipal airports?

Yes, the Federal Aviation Administration has a web page detailing airport grants pursuant to the CARES Act. The site contains a list of eligible Texas airports and their grant amounts.

Is direct FEMA grant funding available for paid and volunteer fire departments?

Yes. The Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants were created to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, "front line" firefighters available in their communities. The goal of SAFER grants is to enhance the local fire departments' ability to comply with staffing, response, and operational standards established by the National Fire Protection Association. The SAFER grants are awarded on a competitive basis, and the application period is open until May 15, 2020.

My city received a direct deposit or check marked “U.S. HHS Stimulus.” Where did it come from, how do we accept it, and what can it be spent on?

The federal CARES Act provides $100 billion in relief funds to hospitals and “other healthcare providers” (including some ambulance providers) on the front lines of the coronavirus response. The funding will be used to support healthcare-related expenses or lost revenue attributable to COVID-19. The Act provides an immediate infusion of $30 billion into the healthcare system that is being distributed immediately – with payments arriving via direct deposit beginning April 10, 2020 – to eligible providers throughout the American healthcare system. These are payments, not loans, to healthcare providers. They will not need to be repaid. All facilities and providers that received Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) reimbursements in 2019 are eligible for this initial rapid distribution. Cities that receive the money must accept the terms and conditions within 30 days.

Where can I find archived issues of the TML Coronavirus Updates?