Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt laid out a timeline for local governments to start getting payments from the federal CARES Act at a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
CARES Act funds totalling $1.2 billion will be dispersed to local governments throughout Oklahoma.
The federal money is not meant to fill budget holes created by economic pains, Stitt said. Instead, it’s supposed to provide relief for extra expenses created by the coronavirus. Stitt said that includes things like new hires, overtime hours, and new technology purchases to enable employees to work from home.
Stitt said it also appears the money will be adequate.
"I think the $1.2 billion will be enough to hit those COVID-related expenses," Stitt said. "So I don’t think we’re gonna have to pick and choose between municipalities."
The state's goal is to begin processing funding requests from cities and counties by June 1, and local governments could begin receiving them within a week.
The state is asking all cities and counties with COVID-19-related expenses to set up an account at governor.ok.gov/crfgrants in order to submit reimbursement requests and reviewthe guidance issued by the U.S. Treasury.
