In 2020, Gov. Inslee allocated $187 million of the state’s share of federal CARES funds to cities for eligible expenses in their communities. While the funds could not be used to replace lost revenues, cities could be reimbursed for unbudgeted, COVID-related expenses.

Cities received funds in early summer and had until November 30, 2020, to spend them. Cities stepped up to the challenge by creating new programs, partnerships, and services to support their communities during the pandemic. In just a few months, cities spent nearly $184 million in response to COVID-19 with over a third of funds going to economic supports for local small businesses and residents.

In early February 2021, the Department of Commerce completed its accounting of the program and shared the results with AWC. Commerce broke the expenses into five main categories and 29 subcategories.

Cities spent the following portions of their CRF allocations in the main five categories:

1. Economic supports: 36%
2. Payroll expenses for public employees dedicated to COVID-19: 35%
3. Expenses to facilitate compliance with COVID-19 measures: 19%
4. Public health expenses: 9%
5. Medical expenses: 1%

The top ten subcategories of spending for cities were:

1. Small business grants for business interruptions (Economic supports);
2. Public safety payroll expenses (Payroll expenses for public employees dedicated to COVID-19);
3. Other economic supports (Economic supports);
4. Telework capabilities for public employees (Expenses to facilitate compliance with COVID-19 measures);
5. Paid sick and paid family and medical leave (Expenses to facilitate compliance with COVID-19 measures);
6. Public health payroll expenses (Payroll expenses for public employees dedicated to COVID-19);
7. Other expenses to facilitate compliance with COVID-19 measures (Expenses to facilitate compliance with COVID-19 measures);
8. Public safety measures (Public health expenses);
9. Medical and protective supplies (Public health expenses); and
10. Food access and delivery to residents (Expenses to facilitate compliance with COVID-19 measures).

AWC greatly appreciates the time and effort that elected officials and city staff dedicated to making the CRF program successful. It was inspiring to read and hear about the many programs cities set up to support their communities through these trying times.

At the federal level, we continue to advocate for direct and flexible funding for cities. On Friday, February 5, the Senate passed a $1.9 trillion stimulus package that includes $350 billion in emergency funding for state and local governments. The stimulus bill is expected to pass through Congress in mid-March and be signed into law before the end of that month.