Report: Utah must spend $300 million+ in CARES Act money by end of 2020
Nov 27, 2020, 2:27 PM
FILE: United States and Utah flags flying in the wind in from of the Capitol Building, Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo: Getty Images
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah has to spend $307 million in CARES Act money by December 30th or all that cash will go back to the federal government.
Utah received $935 million in federal COVID-19 dollars earlier this year.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Duncan Evans, the budget manager for the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, told lawmakers recently that all but $307,000 of that money has been allocated.
However, whether that money has been spent is a different issue.
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For example, Evans says The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has only used $1 million of the $30 million it was given to add broadband internet in some rural areas.
Lawmakers also told The Tribune they are checking up on the $247 million they sent to Utah’s cities and towns to make sure that money gets used by the deadline.
If any of those CARES Act dollars have not gone out the door yet, they might be reallocated.
As for the extra $307 million, The Tribune says lawmakers are looking at a few key areas to spend it.
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Those include getting more COVID-19 testing supplies for Utah’s K-12 schools, giving more assistance to the hard-hit Hispanic and Pacific Islander communities, and increasing funding for rental assistance programs.
CARES Act money has, so far, gone to everything from business grants to buying laptops for students to funding rental assistance programs.
How To Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus
COVID-19 coronavirus spreads person to person, similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:
- Wash hands frequently and thoroughly, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.
- Don’t touch your face.
- Wear a mask to protect yourself and others per CDC recommendations.
- Keep children and those with compromised immune systems away from someone who is coughing or sneezing (in this instance, at least six feet).
- If there is an outbreak near you, practice social distancing (stay at home, instead of going to the movies, sports events, or other activities).
- Get a flu shot.
Local resources
Utah’s Coronavirus Information
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Utah Coronavirus Information Line – 1-800-456-7707
National Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Commonly asked questions, World Health Organization
