Williamson County commissioners discussed the best methods toward distributing more than $93 million the county has received as part of the federal coronavirus relief fund.
In total, the county received $93.4 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security funding, also known as CARES, said County Judge Bill Gravell. On Tuesday, county commissioners mulled how that money would be appropriated.
“Initially, I will tell you, I was shocked with the amount because I thought it was exorbitant,” Gravell said. “But then I began to look at the parameters and how we could use it. And I realized that if we used the money well, then why not trust Williamson County to make the right decisions?”
Williamson County was one of 170 Texas counties and cities that qualified for CARES funds through direct deposit, Gravell said. The funds are to be used for expenditures incurred during the pandemic emergency but not included in the budget since March 1, said County Treasurer Scott Heselmeyer.
Ineligible expenditures under CARES funding include expenses for the state share of Medicaid, workforce bonuses other than hazard pay or overtime, severance pay and legal settlements.
Officials are in the very early stages of planning the allocation of the funds, Heselmeyer said. County leaders have until December to distribute the money, however Gravell expressed wanting to get checks in the hands of residents as soon as possible.
Gravell noted that the funds could be used to reimburse the county for a county senior citizen meal assistance program. A portion of the money is also expected to go toward public health needs. Commissioner Terry Cook voiced concern for giving relief to those who are self-employed.
Commissioners also discussed filling in funding gaps for local programs, like the recently formed Round Rock Cares initiative for local small businesses.
A few committees have been established to help determine the allocation of funds. Heselmeyer, who sits on one of those committees, said he’s been meeting with local chambers of commerce and small business owners for the past six weeks. The coronavirus pandemic is something the business owners couldn’t have planned for, he said.
Heselmeyer, who is a real estate attorney, said he’s read the statutes and believes the money can be granted directly to small businesses. He said he is awaiting more clarification and guidance on distributing small business grants.
“Every day, there are businesses closing that will never reopen,” Heselmeyer said in a Wednesday interview. “This money gives us a chance to help those businesses. Our challenges are not over.”
Commissioners discussed how to handle the ethical concerns over distributing CARES funding. Some committee members own small businesses, or are related to small business owners or elected officials, Commissioner Valerie Covey said.
Commissioner Cynthia Long noted that Round Rock Cares uses a “blind” method where its committee has no knowledge of a business, only its needs.
“I think that’s what we need to focus on, not anything else,” Long said. Cook and Covey quickly expressed agreement.
“I don’t know if there’s a more important thing that we’ve ever been asked to do than this,” Gravell said.
The commissioners are holding a special meeting at 1 p.m. Friday to further discuss the CARES funding.
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