PEKIN, Ill. — The City of Pekin voted Monday night to take advantage of an allotment of $1.4 million in state coronavirus relief funds.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in late June announced the Local Coronavirus Urgent Remediation Emergency, or CURE, program.
The program allocates a total $250 million to various Illinois communities. The money is doled out to municipalities based on a per capita and needs-based formula.
Illinois received the money from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act.
“The city anticipates eligible expenses through Dec. 31 to include payroll, personal protective equipment, materials, medical expenses, and several special projects related to mitigating the effects of COVID-19,” said City Manager Mark Rothert.
Rothert said there are safeguards in place to ensure a city is not misusing its funds.
“The state Department of Commerce has hired a third party administrator for this grant program, and the guidelines they’ve put out essentially have listed seven different tests you have to put each one of these expenses through,” he explained.
“Does it relate to COVID mitigation, is it not formerly budgeted in your budget, [and] things of that nature. So, there is a test we, as the local government, have to put these expenses through first, and when we submit it, we’re basically stating they’ve met these tests.
“They will initially, I assume, do their own set of reviews, but they’re relying upon local government to kind of make that determination. They will provide some oversight.”
The biggest chunk of Pekin’s $1.4 million allotment will be put towards personnel costs related to COVID-19, upwards of $400,000.
With the Local CURE program, a municipality pays up front for its respective expenses, then that money is reimbursed monthly by the state, with a limit of four requests for reimbursement.
Pekin will draw the money from its general, sewer, and school bus funds.
