City of Alexandria, Virginia
________________
MEMORANDUM
DATE: FEBRUARY 17, 2021
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Discussion of Preliminary Framework for the Allocation of Potentially Forthcoming Federal Stimulus Funding.
BODY
_________________________________________________________________
ISSUE: Planning for the allocation of likely forthcoming federal stimulus funding.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Receive this report regarding the proposed preliminary framework on how to allocate potentially forthcoming federal stimulus funding,
(2) Direct the City Manager to consult with community stakeholders and then to develop a final federal stimulus funding allocation plan for future Council consideration; and
(3) Allocate $1.0 million in City funding to serve as interim bridge funding1 for food security and eviction prevention programs to be able to continue until such time as the federal stimulus funds become available.
BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government has approved several relief packages to provide funding to federal, state and local governments to combat COVID-19 and to provide protective relief to the population. While the dollar size of the relief has been substantial, the CARES relief bill, approved early in the pandemic, was the only legislation that included direct aid to counties and cities. Since then, Congress approved additional COVID relief funding, but while those relief bills did provide some targeted support money that eventually found its way to local government, none of that legislation provided direct aid to local governments. The provision of direct state and local aid has largely become a partisan issue. However, the change in control of the U.S. Senate and the Executive Branch has changed the political balance, and now it appears that a stimulus bill approving direct aid to state and local governments is likely ...
Click here for full text