Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Norman Foster
Department: Office of Management and Budget
Information
Requested Action
title
A. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution No. 2021-313 in the Emergency Rental Assistance Fund in the amount of $26,980,368 to appropriate the direct federal assistance from the U.S. Treasury Department to Broward County for the emergency rental assistance program under the Housing Provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, and to authorize the County Administrator to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions to implement.
(Transferred to the Consent Agenda.)
ACTION: (T-11:24 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 9-0.
B. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution No. 2021-314 in the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund in the amount of $189,652,117 to appropriate the first tranche of direct federal assistance from the U.S. Treasury Department to Broward County to mitigate the fiscal effects stemming from the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), and to authorize the County Administrator to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions, including transfer of funds between county funds and departments, and appropriating unspent funds each Fiscal Year from Fiscal Year 2021 to Fiscal Year 2025 on or after October 1st, 2021, to facilitate the incurring of expenses prior to the deadline of December 31st, 2024.
(Transferred to the Consent Agenda.)
ACTION: (T-11:24 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 9-0.
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Why Action is Necessary
Board approval is required for appropriating unanticipated revenue.
What Action Accomplishes
Appropriates the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funding allocated to Broward County for a emergency rental assistance program including administrative costs and the first tranche of Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery funds to mitigate the fiscal effects stemming from the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
Is this Action Goal Related
No
Previous Action Taken
Motion A - February 9, 2021 Item 38.
Summary Explanation/Background
On March 11, 2021, the President signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 into law, which provides direct federal assistance to local governments with populations over 200,000 for the emergency rental assistance program including administrative costs under the Housing Provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. In addition, in May 2021 the first tranche of Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery funds was provided to local governments with populations over 50,000 to mitigate the fiscal effects stemming from the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19); the second tranche is expected to be delivered in 12 months.
Emergency Rental Assistance
In addition to the $58,965,475 approved by the board on February 9, 2021, Broward County has received $26,980,368 in funds to assist with the COVID-19 public health emergency. This amount represents 40% of the total amount the County anticipates receiving. This program will assist households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to a direct or indirect loss associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible households may receive up to 18 months of assistance (inclusive of funds received from the first round of Emergency Rental Assistance), to ensure housing stability. Funds must be expended by September 30, 2025, provided certain benchmarks are met, and cannot be reallocated for any other purpose.
An eligible household is defined as:
• One or more individuals within the household has qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship during or due, directly or indirectly, to the coronavirus pandemic;
• One or more individuals within the household can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and
• The household is a low-income family (as such term is defined in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)).
Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery
Broward County has received the first tranche of Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery funds in the amount of $189,652,117 to mitigate the fiscal effects stemming from the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
Allowable uses of Funds:
a) To respond to the public health emergency or its negative economic impacts, including assistance to households, small businesses, and nonprofits, or aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality;
b) To respond to workers performing essential work during the COVID-19 public health emergency by providing premium pay to eligible workers;
c) For the provision of government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue due to the COVID-19 public health emergency relative to revenues collected in the most recent full fiscal year prior to the emergency; and
d) To make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.
There are Federal guidelines related to eligibility. The County is accountable for every dollar of expenses, as ineligible expenses are subject to recoupment.
Source of Additional Information
Norman Foster, Director, Office of Management and Budget, (954) 357-6346
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Provides Broward County $26,980,368 in Emergency Rental Assistance funding to spend on eligible costs through September 30, 2025 and $189,652,117 in Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery funds (the first tranche of resources) to mitigate the fiscal effects stemming from the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) through December 31, 2024.