Last Chance for Communities to Claim or Transfer Routes to Recovery Dollars
The Routes to Recovery COVID expenses grant program comes to a close this month. The Wisconsin Department of Administration created the Routes to Recovery program using federal CARES Act dollars to reimburse local governments for their COVID related expenses incurred between March 1, 2020 and November 6, 2020. This Friday is the deadline by which any COVID related spending must occur in order to be reimbursable under the Routes to Recovery program.
The final online COVID expense reporting period is November 7 to November 18.
Many communities have not yet used their Routes to Recovery allocation. According to DOA, many cities and villages have not yet used their Routes to Recover allotment. Of the $190 million the state allocated to local governments through the Routes to Recovery program, more than $100 million remained unclaimed as of two weeks ago..
Transferring to other local governments, including school districts is an option. Municipalities may transfer any remaining balance from their allocation to another unit of government and allow that other local government time to spend the dollars added to their allocation by the transfer. In addition, municipalities may make purchases of safety equipment, PPE, and other items on behalf of a school district and obtain reimbursement for the cost of such purchases from their Routes to Recovery allotment. Similarly, if a school district has already purchased safety equipment, PPE, and other reimbursable items in response to the COVID pandemic, a municipality may report such expenses to DOA under the Routes to Recovery program on behalf of the school district. Contact DOA for more information about these and other options for using your community's Routes to Recovery allocation to assist your school district. Submit questions to: [email protected]
