In This Issue:
- Reminder: First Local Government Coronavirus Fund Spending Reports Due August 11
- Metro Cities August Legislative Policy Committees
- Special Session and Capital Investment Bill
REMINDER: First Local Government Coronavirus Fund Spending Reports Due August 11
For local governments that received funds from the Federal CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) prior to July 20, the first report of expenses is due to the State Office of MN Management and Budget (MMB) by next Tuesday, August 11. Click HERE: https://mn.gov/mmb/covid-19-response-accountability-office/local-governments/ for a link to the form. This is a Microsoft Excel form that should automatically download. Reports are due on a monthly basis to MMB and are due seven business days after each certification period. Completed forms should be submitted to [email protected]
MMB will compile information on expenses by category as well as rates of spending and will publish reports monthly. Reports will also be provided to the Legislature and media. MMB will note any local governments that did not submit a report.
Cities will need to supply their SWIFT supplier ID on the form. Other local data and the city’s Duns/Sams number will populate once this ID is provided. Cities should include the name, title, and contact information of the person completing the form.
Cities are asked to provide a summary of expenses by category and should include what has been spent, and what is obligated to be spent. Please note that all payroll costs should be included in the payroll category. Each category on the form includes additional information on qualifying expenses.
As a reminder, cities will want to confirm that CRF expenses meet federal guidance as follows: the expense is necessary to respond to COVID-19, the expense is not accounted for in the current budget, and was incurred during the eligible period (for cities that period is between March 1 and November 15, 2020).
Questions? Contact Patricia Nauman at [email protected]
Metro Cities August Legislative Policy Committees
Metro Cities’ legislative policy committees will meet the week of August 17th. If you are interested in participating, but have not yet signed up, please contact Jennifer Dorn at [email protected] or see our website at www.metrocitiesmn.org. Policy committees will host speakers for the August meetings and members will discuss current policies, as well as suggestions for new policies or modifications to existing language. All meetings will be held virtually.
Special Session and Capital Investment Bill
Today, Governor Walz announced that he will call the Legislature into special session on Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 12 noon. The Governor is required to call a special session if an extension of peacetime emergency orders is issued while the Legislature is not in regular session, to give legislators the opportunity to weigh in on the extension.
Last week, Governor Walz sent a letter to legislative leaders regarding implications for timing for a bonding bill, due to the timing for the annual selling of bonds by the state, which occurs in August of each year. Once bonds are sold, a ‘blackout’ period follows that limits the state’s ability to enact changes to the budget including a capital investment bill. The Governor’s letter indicates that any budget or bonding bills will have to be considered in late September, rather than in August.
Questions? Contact Patricia Nauman at [email protected]