The Cass County Board of Supervisors met today (Tuesday), in-person and electronically. Auditor Dale Sunderman reports a Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) grant, was given to the State to help Iowa respond to the coronavirus for the 2020 election cycle. A sub-grant is available to the counties individually based on the number of precincts. The Supervisors voted unanimously in favor of entering into an Iowa Secretary of State Vote Safe Iowa Initiative Grant Agreement (with an Award amount up to $18,400).

Sunderman says the State has determined CARES Fund allocations and Cass County has been allocated up to $162,734.90 for COVID-19 related expenses. The first claim for reimbursement will be for period of March 1st, 2020 through July 31st, 2020, and amounts to $43,369.38, pending confirmation of eligibility of those funds through documentation. The Board voted to adopt a Resolution requesting reimbursement in the amount stated from the Iowa COVID-19 Government Relief Fund.

The resolution by Cass County to request reimbursement for eligible costs related to the COVID-19 public health emergency from the Iowa COVID-19 Government Relief Fund reads as follows:

WHEREAS, the United States Congress approved the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide economic relief related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

WHEREAS, Governor Kim Reynolds allocated $125 million of the State of Iowa’s CARES Act funding to local governments for direct expenses incurred in response to the COVID-19 emergency.

WHEREAS, local government funding reimbursements may only be used for necessary expenditures incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic, were not accounted for in the current fiscal year county budget, were incurred during the time period of March 1, 2020 through December 30, 2020 and have not been reimbursed from other sources.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, Cass County requests reimbursement of $43,369.38 (Maximum $162,734.90) in eligible expenditures in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Cass County affirms that the above requests for reimbursement follow all formal published Federal and State of Iowa guidance on how the funds should be spent, and understand if the reimbursements are misrepresented, the local government will be liable for any applicable penalty and interest.