At last night’s Board of Trustees Meeting, an intergovernmental agreement with DuPage County was approved, allocating $2.3 million of federal funding to the Village of Lombard for COVID-19 relief, from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
DuPage County received more than $161 million in federal funds through the CARES Act. The Local Government Municipal COVID-19 Reimbursement Program allows these federal funds to be used by DuPage cities, towns, and villages, for pandemic related expenses. These expenses include commodities, the cleaning of Village facilities and equipment, the purchase of personal protective equipment for first responders, and staffing directly related to the pandemic. Lombard’s $2.3 million of COVID-19 relief funding equates to $51.84 per-capita, which exceeds the State’s allocation of $41.50 per capita for downstate areas. This funding is not intended to replace lost revenue, as that is not an eligible expense.
This relief funding was made possible through Intergovernmental Agreements and cooperative efforts of DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference and member municipalities, and the State of Illinois.
“The Village has faced unanticipated expenditures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and we are grateful for this much needed funding,” said Lombard Village President Keith Giagnorio. “We appreciate the support of DuPage County, as well as the DuPage County Mayors and Managers Conference, in working to get this done.”
“The Village remains focused on responsible financial planning,” said Trustee Reid Foltyniewicz, Chairman of Lombard’s Finance and Administration Committee. “Long-term budget issues were a challenge before the impacts of COVID-19. As we process the effects of the pandemic, we are more determined than ever to face these challenges head on.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every level of our society, and every level of government. I’m pleased DuPage County and the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference were able to work together so that DuPage County could make available a large portion of its CARES Act allocation to municipalities like the Village of Lombard. Intergovernmental cooperation for the best interests of the residents is what good government is all about,” said Bob Larsen, Chairman of the DuPage County Board Finance Committee.
In addition to maintaining a hiring freeze and accessing reserve funds, the Village will continue to consider all other options to reduce expenditures as well as to research other potential revenue sources to face budget challenges. For more information regarding the Village’s budget, visit www.villageoflombard.org/budget.