Sullivan announces that Cook County will receive over $2 million in funding from the U.S. Treasury Department

Ann Sullivan

Cook County Commissioner Board Chair Ann Sullivan had some exciting news to share at the board’s October 25 meeting. During commissioner reports at the end of the meeting Sullivan announced that Cook County will receive $1,019,951.31 annually, for both the 2022 and 2023 budgets, funds from the U.S. Treasury Department’s American Rescue Plan Act.

Sullivan learned about the large grant to Cook County at the AMC District 1 Fall meeting held in Grand Portage at the Grand Portage Lodge and Casino.

Recently the U.S. Treasury Department released $1.5 billion over a two-year period. The money will go to eligible counties and tribal governments.

Sullivan explained, “This Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund utilized a formula to determine which counties and tribes qualified. They used measurements of poverty rates, household income, land values, and unemployment as well as other economic indicators over the 20-year period ending with September 20, 2021. Tribal governments receive separate funding from counties.”

She added, “We may use these dollars for programs, services and capital expenditures that traditionally fulfill a governmental purpose. We cannot use the funds for lobbying.”

Sullivan said “Auditor Powers will need to request funding by January 31 of 2023, and all funds are available until expended (or returned to the Treasury–which we won’t do). The County anticipates using funding on capital improvements, housing, and other identified needs. There will be lots of discussion in the near future about how to best utilize these unanticipated funds. Whatever is finally decided, there is an obvious benefit to our taxpayers!”

In other AMC news, on Thursday, October 27 Sullivan received a note from the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) District 1 Director Ann Marcotte, Aitkin County Commissioner.

“As you know, one of the primary goals of the meeting is to hear from the members what legislative priorities are most important.

Here are the four highest ranked items based on the ballots cast at the meeting, in order:

AMC supports strengthening Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding programs to address regional inequalities and guarantee full property tax loss replacement.

AMC supports legislative action to provide comprehensive property tax relief through an increase in County Program Aid along with expanded benefits in the state’s homestead exclusion, property tax refund, and targeted property tax refund programs.

AMC supports major state investment in systems transformation and modernization – which must include appropriate county collaboration, oversight, and guidance – to achieve efficient service delivery in health and human services.

AMC supports additional state investments across the housing spectrum, including but not limited to: workforce and affordable housing, senior housing, and emergency and transitional housing supports.

There was a three-way tie for the last spot in the top five between the priorities advocating for reallocation of the Solid Waste Management Tax, Funding for Public Health, and Bonding for Transportation Infrastructure.

The AMC Board will see the results of the voting at all 10 districts and finalize the 2023 legislative priorities at our meeting in December in conjunction with the AMC Annual Conference.