KANSAS CITY, Mo. — CARES Act funds have been processed for 105 Missouri counties and the City of St. Louis, according to Missouri Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick, but Jackson County has not yet agreed to provide funding to Kansas City, Missouri.
“The expectation we’ve set with the counties that are receiving aid from the state is that we want them to be the leaders in their local communities of distributing that money where it’s needed most,” Fitzpatrick said during a press conference on Monday.
Fitzpatrick said he spoke with commissioners of Cass, Clay and Platte counties and they understand the “unique situation” Kansas City is in as a “large city” with expenses associated with COVID-19. He also said that the state offered to “take responsibility” for how the funding is spent, and Cass, Clay and Platte counties agreed to that.
Jackson County, according to Fitzpatrick, has not yet agreed.
“They are of the opinion that the federal guidance would prevent them from administering grants to other local governments,” Fitzpatrick said. “At least, that’s what was communicated to me.”
The United States Treasury Department, according to Fitzpatrick, is expected to release additional guidance later this week.
Fitzpatrick said that roughly $468 million in CARES Act funding has been distributed and should be accessible by Wednesday.
