DLS City & Town

A Message from ANF Secretary Heffernan Regarding Coronavirus Relief Funds

Michael J. Heffernan - Secretary of Administration and Finance

Last week, Baker-Polito Administration announced plans to distribute up to $502 million from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund (CvRF) to cities and towns across the Commonwealth for eligible COVID-19 response costs.

We also provided detailed guidance to municipalities on the formal distribution process to help maximize federal resources and promote compliance with federal restrictions and reporting requirements.

Please click here to view this guidance and click here for a letter sent to each Municipal Chief Executive Officer. Please also see a webinar held in conjunction with the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA).

Our distribution process allows municipalities, through their chief executive officer, to apply online for estimated Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) needs. These funds will help address any existing deficits in FY20, thereby avoiding the need to use reserves to fund a deficit or carry one into Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21). Municipalities will then have the opportunity to request funding for FY21 eligible COVID-19 costs at a later date.

This approach will help distribute resources to municipalities quickly and efficiently, and will help minimize compliance risk. It will also allow necessary flexibility to allocate additional funds if unanticipated needs arise, or if federal rules change. These resources will also help ease municipal cashflow pressures.

It’s important to note that these federal funds must be utilized by municipalities consistent with parameters established by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES” Act) and guidance from the US Treasury Department. Under federal law, eligible uses must be necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to COVID–19, and may not be used to substitute for lost revenue. They cannot have been budgeted as of March 27, 2020 when the CARES Act was enacted, and may not supplant state or municipal spending. Additionally, the expenditures must be incurred on or after March 1, 2020, and up to December 30, 2020.

One question that had not been answered by the federal government at the time of last week’s webinar was whether CvRF funds can be used as the local match for FEMA funds. I am pleased to say that recently released federal guidance clarifies that CvRF resources can be used as the local FEMA match.

Please remember that clear processes and documentation can mitigate the risk of federal audit challenges to the uses of these funds. If you have questions about how to track and account for these funds, contact the auditing firm that completes your annual audit or your Division of Local Services (DLS) field rep. Please also feel free to email LocalGovCaresAct@DOR.state.ma.us with any questions on this topic.

Thank you for your efforts to help the people of the Commonwealth during these challenging times.

DESE Provides Guidance Related to High School Graduations

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Earlier today, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released guidance concerning high school graduations. Please see below.

Graduation guidelines:

Between now and July 18, graduation should be held virtually or in limited circumstances following safety protocols, such as car parades.

Beginning July 19, graduation ceremonies can take place OUTSIDE under certain conditions, assuming the public health data supports continued opening of our state, at that time.

• Any graduation ceremony must be held outside only in a large venue to accommodate social distancing of at least six feet if attendees are not from the same immediate household. Tents or other enclosures are not permitted.

• Only immediate family of graduates can attend. Families must sign up in advance, and only those who have pre-registered may attend.

• All attendees must wear face masks in accordance with the Governor’s COVID-19 Executive Order No. 31 and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s guidance. Speakers may remove masks during their remarks.

• Graduates should individually be invited to walk across the stage and turn their tassel in lieu of receiving a diploma by hand. No handshakes or hugs.

Social distancing guidelines

• Guests who are not part of the same immediate household must be seated at least 6 feet apart. Members of the same household are permitted to sit together less than 6 feet apart.

• If there is fixed seating, rows should be blocked off and kept empty to allow for sufficient distancing between rows.

• Children under 5-years-old and older adults, or those with vulnerable health conditions, should be discouraged from attending.

• School staff must monitor the number of attendees entering and confirm they have pre-registered.

• No receptions are permitted before or after the graduation.

Venues must have sufficient access to hand-washing facilities, including soap and running water, as well as alcohol-based hand sanitizers available at all entrances and exits.