ASHEVILLE - Buncombe is set to receive just under $4.5 million in coronavirus relief funds under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act to be used for expenses related to the county's response to COVID-19.
County commissioners approved a plan for disbursing the money in a 6-0 vote May 19 that includes sharing grants with local entities with which Buncombe has partnered in its response to the pandemic.
Some of the funding will go to local fire districts, so Commissioner Anthony Penland — who is chief of the Swannanoa Volunteer Fire Department — recused himself to avoid any apparent conflict of interest.
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The specific allocations will not be finalized until the board approves a budget for the next fiscal year in June. However, strategic partnerships director Rachel Nygaard spoke to commissioners May 19, requesting their approval of an initial plan to distribute some of the funds through sub-grants to municipalities and fire districts.
The amounts each entity would receive were determined through the same method that the state Department of Revenue uses for sales tax allocation. Like the county, the entities would have to use the funds for eligible expenses, which include medical, public health, payroll, compliance measures, economic support and other reasonable costs associated with the coronavirus pandemic.
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This is how it would break down:
$1.1 million to municipalities
- Asheville: $943,771
- Biltmore Forest: $37,557
- Black Mountain: $59,245
- Montreat: $14,611
- Weaverville: $48,398
- Woodfin: $34,460
$329K to fire districts
- Barnardsville: $10,770
- Broad River: $4,249
- East Buncombe: $13,533
- Enka Candler: $33,926
- Fairview: $29,772
- French Broad: $5,948
- Garren Creek: $3,741
- Jupiter: $11,601
- Leicester: $18,009
- Reems Creek: $17,919
- Reynolds: $13,072
- Riceville: $12,506
- Skyland: $66,705
- Swannanoa: $19,463
- Upper Hominy: $9,666
- Weaverville: $17,330
- West Buncombe: $26,378
- Woodfin: $10,531
- Asheville Suburban: $3,006
- Asheville Special District: $1,240
$3 million to the county
The county would use the funds for reimbursement of eligible expenses associated with the pandemic with the following guidelines:
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- Expenditures must fall between March 1, 2020 and Dec. 30, 2020 for purposes that were not accounted for in the most recently approved budget as of March 27, 2020.
- Funds may not be used to reimburse for revenue loss.
- The State Pandemic Recovery Office is encouraging these funds be used prior to FEMA reimbursement, which requires a 25% match.
- Federal uniform administrative requirements, cost principles and audit requirements for federal awards promulgated by the United States Office of Management and Budget apply unless the U.S. Treasury publishes guidance stating otherwise.
Buncombe also intents to use the funds to hire a temporary grant coordinator to monitor the sub-grants and ensure that they comply with federal law.
Mackenzie Wicker covers Buncombe County for the Asheville Citizen Times. You can reach her at mwicker@citizentimes.com or follow her on Twitter @MackWick.
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