Brockton receives $1 million in federal funds for coronavirus-related reimbursements
BROCKTON — As part of the CARES Act, Brockton received its first $1 million check for federal coronavirus relief funds that are being distributed by the county government.
The funding reimburses the city for the costs of acquiring personal protective equipment, technology to support remote working, hardware and software for public school students and other supplies related to pandemic response, according to the city's chief financial officer.
And now the city is in line to get more money than initially expected.
"The funding we received is reimbursement for expenses the city has already incurred," said Brockton Chief Financial Officer Troy Clarkson. "This is the first of many reimbursements under the county’s program."
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The $1.05 million check to the city was part of an overall $16 million that was committed to Brockton for coronavirus-related reimbursements under the CARES Act, according to Daniel Pallotta, chairman of the Plymouth County Board of Commissioners. Previously, city officials expected to receive $12.1 million in CARES Act relief funds. But the three-member Plymouth County Board of Commissioners adjusted the cap at their most recent meeting, Clarkson said.
County officials presented a $1.05 million check to Mayor Robert Sullivan during an event held on Monday in front of the Brockton Neighborhood Health Center, which was the recipient of a separate line of CARES Act funding as it provided testing for thousands of community residents, including those staying at the downtown homeless shelter. The U.S. Health Resources and Service Administration has provided $2.04 million to the Brockton Neighborhood Health Center thus far, according to the health care nonprofit, including $92,770 used for extra COVID-19 pay for staff working in the coronavirus clinic, $1,318,670 under the CARES Act to help pay the mortgage at the facility amid revenue losses and $630,289 in federal funding to expand COVID-19 testing.
Pallotta said Brockton ended up getting more reimbursement money because the county got local control of the federal funding, instead of allowing the state to administer the funds, which every other county and local government throughout Massachusetts opted to do with the exception of the the city of Boston.
The county successfully applied directly to the federal government and was awarded $90,945,729. Initially, Sullivan, the state's finance secretary and a large number of local elected officials sent letters urging the county commissioners to relinquish control of the funds, arguing that Gov. Charlie Baker's administration was better suited to disperse the money efficiently, but the commissioners refused.
"Brockton's proportional share is a little bit higher," Pallotta said during the check ceremony on Monday. "That's pretty important. That wouldn't have happened if it was done on a bigger scale. We do listen. The commissioners are working really, really hard."
Brockton still has about $15 million more in funds coming to the city for eligible reimbursements.
"This is really the beginning of what we're handing to the city of Brockton," Pallotta said.
In total, according to a website set up by the county to provide information on the CARES Act funding, Plymouth County has dispersed $4.3 million so far. At this point, the town of Marshfield has received the most, getting $1.13 million in reimbursements thus far.
A few towns have not yet received reimbursements, including Abington, West Bridgewater, Whitman and Hanson, according to the website. Bridgewater received $30,703, East Bridgewater got $87,985 and Middleboro got $82,311.
The cost of administering the CARES Act fund is also being reimbursed from the federal funding, amounting to $108,322 thus far, according to the Plymouth County CARES Act website. The county hired the law firm Murphy, Hesse, Toomey and Lehane, auditors from Melanson-Heath and accountant Eric Kinsherf to oversee the fund. That way post-audit, it will be "squeaky clean," said County Commissioner Greg Hanley.
"It was necessary to do that so (the CARES Act funding) could get into the people that need it, and that we can do it without fraud," Hanley said.
After initial disagreements, and in an age of polarizing politics, Hanley said it was refreshing to have strong cooperation between all the communities and elected officials involved in order to get the money out.
"It's nice for once to be all on the same page," said Hanley, a Democrat from Plymouth. "Regardless of what party you are a part of, this is where Americans need to work together."
The check presentation ceremony was attended by U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Boston, who seemed to embrace Plymouth County's local approach to dispersing the funds, applauding the cooperation between the mayor and county officials. Lynch said he and others in Congress were able to pass $2.7 billion for CARES Act relief to cities and towns in Massachusetts, with $1.3 billion approved nationally for health centers and $236 billion approved nationally for hospitals and health centers.
"There's more work that needs to be done here," said Lynch, while applauding the Brockton Neighborhood Health Center and other local front-line workers, including police and firefighters. "All I do is push the money out the door. And then it's the responsibility of all these people, the mayor, and all the officials who are here, that really put this money into action."
Plymouth County Treasurer Thomas said he's looking forward to providing Brockton and Mayor Sullivan with more reimbursements later this year.
"These are the first of many, Mr. Mayor," Thomas said during the check ceremony.
"All right, we like to hear that," Sullivan said.
The mayor said the city is not through the woods when it comes to the pandemic. Sullivan said 4,500-plus city residents have contracted coronvairus and 281 have died.
"We're not through COVID right now," Sullivan said. "It's a deadly virus. We need to be vigilant and diligent, and continue to adhere to the health standards. That's what we need to do to control this."
Staff writer Marc Larocque can be reached at mlarocque@enterprisenews.com. Follow him on Twitter @Enterprise_Marc.