MOHAVE COUNTY – A tidal wave of money from the $1.9-trillion COVID-19 relief package is sloshing across the country to state and local government and numerous other entities. Billions of dollars will flow into Arizona.
Dist. 2 Sup. Hildy Angius said $1.3 billion alone, is being funneled to the state’s 15 counties.
“Mohave County is set to receive $41.5-million,” Angius said during a recent Board of Supervisors meeting. “It basically can be used for anything except lobbying and that means for people, for citizens, for counties. We have a lot of talking to do about this.”
County Manager Sam Elters said there are lots of unanswered questions regarding how the funding is to be handled. He said he and staff are striving for clarity before kicking off board discussion about possible spending approaches.
Expected municipal allocations are approximations: $13.4-million for Lake Havasu City, $9.8-million for Bullhead city and about $7.5-million for Kingman.
“I’m very grateful that the city is getting this funding and because there haven’t been a lot of strings attached to it as far as I’ve been told,” said Kingman mayor Jen Miles. “It gives us an opportunity as a city council and the administration to work together to really use the funds to either extend services or to address primary needs of the city.”
City and County officials said they hoped that their allocation questions are answered in timely fashion, as local government moves deeper into budget development for the next fiscal year.
Dave Hawkins
