$60M In Coronavirus Relief Coming For NJ Counties, Towns

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey counties and towns that didn't qualify for federal coronavirus relief will benefit from $60 million in relief from the state, officials announced on Friday.

Counties and municipalities that didn’t qualify for money from the federal government will share in $60 million that has been allocated from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) for the Local Government Emergency Fund, Gov. Phil Murphy announced.

"Local governments have stepped up to meet the needs of their communities throughout this pandemic, and we are strengthening their efforts today with $60 million dollars in direct relief," Murphy said. "We know these funds will be a welcome lifeline of support for essential government services and New Jersey's taxpayers."

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The New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) is also providing up to $10 million from the Coronavirus Relief Fund to support the state's County Boards of Social Services with pandemic-related expenses.

Murphy made the announcement in Evesham Township alongside Rep. Andy Kim (D-3) and Rep. Donald Norcross (D-1), as well as state and local officials.

"Our state has been hit hard by this crisis, and we need to do everything we can to help our communities stay safe and healthy," Kim said. "I'm proud to have voted to help deliver this funding back home, but the work isn't done. I'll keep working with my colleagues in Congress to find bipartisan solutions that will help New Jersey, and won't stop pressing until this pandemic is over and working people are back on their feet."

"The CARES Act has delivered critical federal resources to our state, and distributing this CRF funding to those county and local governments who have yet to receive relief will have a profound impact," Norcross said. "These resources will provide our local governments with the vital funding needed to help cover unexpected costs from the pandemic and keep our first responders and other essential workers safe and on the job. I'll continue to fight for New Jersey in Congress to ensure our communities get the tools and supplies we need to combat this outbreak and keep residents healthy and secure."

The following is a list of counties that will receive aid, and how much aid each will receive. For a list of municipalities that will receive aid, visit http://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/dlgs/programs/lgef.html.

• Atlantic: $6,318,936
• Burlington: $8,187,352
• Cape May: $1,305,162
• Cumberland: $6,391,225
• Gloucester: $4,858,821
• Hunterdon: $948,183
• Mercer: $12,593,962
• Morris: $8,415,816
• Salem: $1,538,872
• Somerset: $6,367,176
• Sussex: $1,319,462
• Warren: $1,755,034

Funding will help local governments pay for public safety and health-related expenses, coronavirus-related overtime, increased residential and health-related garbage collection and services, remote working technology, signage and information technology related to the coronavirus response and recovery, and public health-related retrofit expenses for reopening.

The Local Government Emergency Fund allocation formula uses a variety of relevant metrics, including the municipal coronavirus infection rate, fiscal stress, the Municipal Revitalization Index (MRI), population, and public safety and health and human services expenditures share of the budget to determine the amount of funds counties and municipalities receive.

Governments can’t use funding for revenue replacement, including the provision of assistance to meet tax obligations. Only expenses incurred between March 1, 2020, and Dec. 30, 2020, are covered by this funding. They may seek 100 percent of their eligible costs, up to their maximum allocation. For program guidelines, click here.