Iredell County to receive more than $3.2 million to cover COVID-19 expenses

Posted on by Mike Fuhrman

Special to Iredell Free News

RALEIGH – Iredell County will receive more than $3.2 million from the State of North Carolina to cover immediate expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sen. Vickie Sawyer

State Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R-34th District) announced in a news release that Iredell County will receive up to $3,208,043 and Yadkin County will get up to $862,854.

“These funds will provide vital relief for our district and I was proud to support this legislation in the Senate,” Sawyer said.

Ninety-seven of North Carolina’s counties will receive funding through the state’s 2020 COVID-19 Recovery Act, which established a $300-million Local Government Coronavirus Reserve. Half of the reserve is being directly distributed to counties.

Counties that did not receive funds from the federal CARES Act are eligible for a base payment of $250,000 with additional money allocated based on per capita population. The money can only be used to offset coronavirus-related costs including, but not limited to, establishing temporary medical facilities, testing, disinfecting public areas, public safety measures, and purchasing and distributing protective supplies.

Counties can allocate portions of the funds to local municipalities for those expenses.

“Communities across the state are suffering because of the coronavirus and are struggling to
cover necessary expenses to keep their residents safe,” Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham)
said. “This $150 million is key to helping our communities fight this virus. I’m thankful the
General Assembly unanimously approved the funding so we can continue down the road to
recovery.”

The economic impact of this virus is forcing elected officials to take stock of government services like trash collection, law enforcement operations, and street repairs to find every penny they can to save for essential services. The General Assembly’s nearly $1.6 billion COVID-19 recovery bill reserved another $150 million for local government use once the federal government allows greater flexibility for use, including filling budget shortfalls.