Kunze Announces $350 Million in Relief Funding for Ohio’s Local Communities

COLUMBUS— State Senator Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard) today announced that the Ohio Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 310, authorizing the distribution of $350 million of federal CARES Act funding to local communities across Ohio for COVID-19 pandemic-related expenses.

This funding will be made available to counties, municipalities and townships for necessary expenses associated with the current public health emergency and will be distributed based on the proportion of Local Government Fund revenue allocated to them in 2019.

“Senate Bill 310 will provide essential funds from the federal CARES Act to communities across Ohio impacted by the coronavirus pandemic,” said Kunze. “This unanimous, bipartisan emergency response measure passed by the Ohio Senate will provide much needed assistance to local governments as they continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and provide necessary services to their residents.”

The County Commissioners Association, Ohio Mayor’s Alliance, Ohio Municipal League and Ohio Township Association voiced their support for S.B. 310.

The funding authorized today excludes Ohio’s six jurisdictions with populations over 500,000 because they already qualify for a direct payment from the CARES Act; this includes the city of Columbus and Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Montgomery and Summit county governments. Municipalities and townships within these counties, however, are still eligible for the funding appropriated in S.B. 310.

The legislation passed with an emergency clause, making the bill effective immediately upon being signed by the governor. The bill now moves to the Ohio House for consideration. For more information on S.B. 310 click here.