Buried in the recently adopted state 2021-2023 operating budget is a $20 million city assistance fund to provide one-time money to cities to offset costs generated by law enforcement and criminal justice related legislation enacted between January 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021.

AWC has been in conversations with the Office of Financial Management (OFM) about the distribution of these funds. Cities can expect about $4 per capita, and funds will be directly distributed via the State Treasurer’s office. Cities can expect to receive their disbursements on July 27.

A city assistance fund was first proposed by House budget leaders, and we were pleased that these funds were included in the final budget. These monies are in response to cities discussing the cost of legislation and the importance of the Legislature helping to fund those costs. The funds were included in SB 5092, the 2021-2023 operating budget, under Section 739 on page 507.