Local governments will share nearly $23 million in latest coronavirus relief package

The amounts range from more than $13 million for the county to $40,000 for the town of LaFayette.

The $1.9 trillion coronavirus economic relief package that Congress passed and President Joe Biden signed into law last week has generated extensive coverage of the benefits to individual Americans through stimulus checks, unemployment supplements and increased child tax credits. 

For example, an individual making less than $75,000 will receive a $1,400 stimulus check, and the $300-a-week unemployment supplements will continue until Sept. 6. The increased child tax credit is $3,600 for children up to age 5 and $3,000 for children ages 6 to 17.

But somewhat lost in the discussion of the American Rescue Plan is the huge benefit it provides to local and state governments. In Christian County, the combined payout to local governments will be an estimated $22.9 million.

According to Axios Media charts created from government spreadsheets provided by the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, the amounts projected for local governments include:

  • Christian County: $13.67 million
  • Hopkinsville: $6.74 million
  • Crofton: $200,000
  • LaFayette: $40,000
  • Oak Grove: $2.04 million
  • Pembroke: $250,000

Local officials are waiting on more details about how the money can and cannot be spent. Christian County Judge-Executive Steve Tribble said much of the guidance will come from the Kentucky Department for Local Government.

Some approved uses for the money will include reimbursement of government losses during the pandemic, along with infrastructure improvements, said Tribble. Money from the relief package could also be used to help industries that suffered losses because of COVID-19 — such as tourism and hospitality. 

Robert Martin, Hopkinsville’s finance director, said Friday that city officials hadn’t received any details yet about restrictions on the funding. When that information is available, it will be up to the city council to decide how to spend the stimulus money, he said.

Local governments will have until Dec. 31, 2024, to spend their allocation.

Tribble said his preference for the county would be to spend the money on “far-reaching” projects. Years from now, he wants local citizens to look back at the decisions elected officials made and realize they did “a good thing with this money,” he said. 

Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. She spent 30 years as a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition.