How Much Framingham Can Get From Federal Coronavirus Stimulus

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Help from the federal government is coming to cities and towns in Massachusetts battling the coronavirus pandemic — but the stimulus cash can't be used to plug holes in local budgets from lost revenue.

Last week, state officials said that about $502 million from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act would be available to local governments. The money can only be used for specific expenses related to the pandemic, like buying personal protective equipment and costs related to remote learning.

Framingham is eligible for about $6.4 million from the CARES Act, according to state officials. The state got about $2.7 billion total from the federal government. The entire CARES Act packages was $150 billion, and included expenses like stimulus checks sent directly to taxpayers, and bailouts for health care companies.

State officials are instructing governments to send estimated expenses for the current fiscal year. Any over-estimates will have to be paid back.

Towns and cities across the state are in the process of creating budgets for the 2021 fiscal year, which begins on July 1. Most are seeing a sizeable drop in revenue because businesses have been closed, which means less local tax revenue. The state has not drafted its fiscal 2021 budget yet, which means municipal officials don't yet know how much state aid is coming.

Framingham is facing a serious budget shortfall in fiscal 2021. The city began laying off some employees on Thursday, with possibly more to come.