This morning, the Board of Mesa County Commissioners submitted a letter to Governor Polis regarding Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) ACT funding.
The letter states:
"The Mesa County Board of Commissioners submits this letter to express our disbelief and frustration with the apparent lack of communication and coordination with rural communities across Colorado.
On Friday, April 17, 2020, we received news and it is our understanding that allegedly your administration will use the state and local government portion of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) ACT funding, almost $1.7 billion, to balance the state’s budget and make no distribution to local governments under 500,000 population as Congress intended.
We are beyond disappointed at the administration’s intent to take federal economic relief intended to help our communities recover.
Please coordinate with local, rural governments before deciding what is best for our communities.
Completely ignoring the fact that counties and cities are on the front line when it comes to providing services to the citizens across the state is simply unacceptable.
We urge you to give rural communities the funds Congress has provided to help mitigate the effect, and the impact COVID-19 has had on the health and welfare of our citizens."
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The letter states:
"The Mesa County Board of Commissioners submits this letter to express our disbelief and frustration with the apparent lack of communication and coordination with rural communities across Colorado.
On Friday, April 17, 2020, we received news and it is our understanding that allegedly your administration will use the state and local government portion of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) ACT funding, almost $1.7 billion, to balance the state’s budget and make no distribution to local governments under 500,000 population as Congress intended.
We are beyond disappointed at the administration’s intent to take federal economic relief intended to help our communities recover.
Please coordinate with local, rural governments before deciding what is best for our communities.
Completely ignoring the fact that counties and cities are on the front line when it comes to providing services to the citizens across the state is simply unacceptable.
We urge you to give rural communities the funds Congress has provided to help mitigate the effect, and the impact COVID-19 has had on the health and welfare of our citizens."
