12/28/2021
Through
November, the state of Missouri has spent $344.6 million of the $1.81 billion
received under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act for COVID-19 recovery
efforts, a report released today by State Auditor Nicole Galloway shows. The
report tracks spending of ARP funds, which Missouri began receiving in May
2021, and is in addition to monthly reports on CARES Act funding the state is
receiving.
The
report for November on ARP spending is part of Auditor Galloway's ongoing
review to help ensure accountability for the billions of federal dollars coming
into Missouri for COVID-19 response and recovery. Since June 2020, the State
Auditor's Office has released monthly reports on the $5.1 billion Missouri has
received to date through the CARES Act and other federal programs for COVID-19
response efforts.
The
ARP Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden in March
2021. The funding received by or made available to Missouri state government
agencies help pay for the state's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. ARP
funding includes state and local recovery aid, funding for K-12 schools and
institutions of higher education, and funding for various other assistance and
benefit programs.
Additionally,
the ARP Act makes available a two-year 5% increase in federal funding because
Missouri implemented Medicaid expansion, and also provided temporary enhanced
federal matching funds for other Medicaid programs administered by MO
HealthNet. Through November, the state has received approximately $111 million
additional Medicaid funding under the ARP Act.
With
approximately $738,000 disbursed in November, the state has now distributed
approximately $221 million to local governments from the Coronavirus Local
Government Fiscal Recovery Fund. Approximately $1.2 million has been disbursed
by the state so far under ARP to support COVID-19 screening and testing to
maintain in-person learning in schools. More than $1.34 billion has been
received for the Coronavirus State Government Fiscal Recovery Fund, but has not
been appropriated by the legislature as of Nov. 30.
The
ARP also makes available approximately $2.6 billion for distribution to
Missouri's K-12 and higher education institutions. While none of this
funding has been accessed to date, it is available until September 30, 2023.
The
complete Federal ARP Act Funding for COVID-19 Recovery report for November can
be found here.
The
most recent CARES Act report from Auditor Galloway is here.