by Freddy Smith 

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Louisiana’s Division of Administration will accept reimbursement applications October 1 – 15, 2020 to administer the third round of the state’s $511 million in CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds. This round of funding will cover eligible expenditures related to the COVID-19 pandemic for the period March 1 – September 30, 2020. This is the last scheduled round of funding.

What is considered a local government?

A parish, municipality, town, township, village or other unit of general government below the State level with parish-wide jurisdiction including, but not limited to, Sheriff, Coroner, Clerk of Court, and District Attorney is considered a local government for the purposes of this funding. If your entity is one which does not fit within the definition of local government unit, your application for reimbursement must be submitted by the parish with which you are affiliated.

Will there be other chances to apply for reimbursement?

During the first and second rounds, Louisiana governments submitted millions in claims for such things as public safety payroll costs, medical and safety supplies, and sanitation services. The Joint Legislative Committee of the Budget (JLCB) released a report on local government coronavirus relief funding from both previous application periods. Allocations from the first and second rounds totaled $393,655,437; however, only $375,999,871 was requested and only $226,952,418 in authorized payments were made.

Based upon these numbers, many local governments may still have significant unclaimed expenses, and the October 1 – October 15 application period may be the last chance to submit reimbursement applications to recoup these eligible costs. It is anticipated that this funding round will use the entire allocated amount and there are not likely to be any further opportunities to recoup expenses from the covered periods.

Next steps

In order to make the most of funding available to local governments, it is critical for your organization to act quickly and submit your application for the third, and potentially final, round of funding.

If you have questions about the eligibility of certain expenses or need assistance with the reimbursement application process, please contact us. P&N’s experienced professionals are available to help you maximize CARES Act Funds that enable you to provide vital public services and help our communities recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

Updated FAQs, application instructions, required documents, and federal guidance related to Louisiana CARES Act funds can be found at www.LouisianaCARES.la.gov.