12/02/2021
Through
October, the state of Missouri has spent $342.8 million of the $1.7 billion
received under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act for COVID-19 recovery
efforts, reports released today by State Auditor Nicole Galloway show. The
reports track spending of ARP funds, which Missouri began receiving in May
2021, and are in addition to monthly reports on CARES Act funding the state is
receiving.
The
reports for September and October on ARP spending are 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
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. The state began processing application related to Medicaid expansion
in October.
The
state has disbursed approximately $220 million to local governments from the
Coronavirus Local Government Fiscal Recovery Fund. $2.4 million has been
received by the state so far under ARP to support COVID-19 screening and testing
to maintain in-person learning in schools. Approximately $1.34 billion has been
received for the Coronavirus State Government Fiscal Recovery Fund, but has not
been appropriated by the legislature as of Oct. 31.
The
ARP also makes available more than $2 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 September can
be found here. The report for October can be found here.
The
most recent of the CARES Act reports from Auditor Galloway are here and here.
