By Bill Short
The Millington Board of Mayor and Aldermen has voted unanimously to accept the transfer of a portion of CARES Act funding that was awarded to Shelby County.
Board members took the action during a June 29 special called meeting on a motion offered by Alderman Don Lowry and seconded by Alderman Al Bell.
The CARES Act, passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law on March 27, makes funding available to qualifying local, state and federal agencies to cover costs related to unbudgeted expenditures incurred after March 1 because of COVID-19.
On May 4, the Shelby County Commission voted to accept funding it had applied for and was awarded.
The funds can also be used for necessary expenditures incurred from “second-order effects” of the pandemic, such as providing economic support to those suffering from employment or business interruptions in the county.
But not all of the county’s six municipalities qualified to apply for and receive funding directly from the U.S. Treasury.
So, to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, the county has agreed to provide a portion of the funds it received as aid to Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland and Millington.
The board voted to authorize Mayor Terry Jones to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the county for the transfer of $355,000.
The agreement is subject to review and approval by City Attorney Gerald Lawson.
City Finance Director John Trusty said that, under the provisions of the CARES Act, the funds must be obligated by Sept. 1 and disbursed by Dec. 30.
