HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-056 XLEN HILLS
CITY OF ARDEN HILLS
COUNTY OF RAMSEY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION NO. 2020-056
RESOLUTION ALLOCATING CARES ACT FUNDING
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY PAYROLL COSTS
WHEREAS,the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES)Act provided
federal funds to the State of Minnesota, and the legislature and Governor thereby distributed these
funds to local governments throughout Minnesota to deal with the financial impacts of COVID
19; and
WHEREAS, the CARES funding requires a three-point test for utilization of the funds
that they be:
1. Necessary expenditures for responding to COVID 19,
2. Not accounted for in the original budget process, and
3. Incurred during the period of March 1, 2020 to November 15, 2020; and
WHEREAS, guidance from the United States Treasury for State, Territorial, Local and
Tribal Governments,outlined in their Frequently Asked Questions,updated on September 2,2020,
indicated that local governments "may presume that payroll costs for the public health and public
safety employees are payments for services substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to
the COVID-19 public health emergency, unless the chief executive (or equivalent) of the relevant
government determines that specific circumstances indicate otherwise"; and this same guidance
states that a cost was not accounted for in the most recently approved budget if the cost is for a
substantially different use; and
WHEREAS, guidance from the Inspector General of the United States Treasury for State,
Territorial, Local and Tribal Governments issued guidance updated on September 21, 2020,
indicating that governments "will not have to demonstrate/substantiate that a public health or
public safety employee's function/duties were substantially dedicated to mitigating the emergency
but must maintain records and documentation supporting payroll amounts reimbursed using CRF
proceeds.As indicated in Treasury's Guidance,as an administrative accommodation,governments
may presume that public health and public safety employees meet the substantially dedicated test,
unless the chief executive (or equivalent) of the relevant government determines that specific
circumstances indicate otherwise."; and
To view the final document, access adopted Resolutions via Arden Hills Public Laserfiche Weblink by visiting
cityofardenhills.org and clicking on Archived Documents under Helpful Links on our main webpage.
WHEREAS, League of Minnesota Cities and Metro Cities have worked in consultation
with Minnesota Management and Budget's Minnesota COVID Response Accountability Office,
and the Minnesota Department of Revenue to provide further direction on the use of CARES
funding for regular police and fire payroll and also indicated we may presume these regular payroll
public safety expenses as being dedicated to a COVID-19 response; and
WHEREAS, the City of Arden Hills contracts with the Ramsey County Sheriff's
Department and the Lake Johanna Fire Department for public safety services. A portion of these
contracts are for payroll and benefit costs in the areas of patrol, traffic, crime prevention, fire and
medical emergencies in the City of Arden Hills. These duties are presumed to be sustainably
dedicated to the COVID-19 health emergency for the period March 1 to November 15, 2020.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Arden
Hills, Minnesota, that the City Council recognizes that regular payroll expenses from March 1,
2020 to November 15, 2020, consistent with Federal and State direction, be deemed
reimbursable due to the public health emergency related to COVID 19. Any CARES Act funds
not utilized for other authorized expenditures will be used to reimburse public safety payroll
costs.
ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARDEN HILLS THIS
9TH DAY OF NOVEMBER,2020.
Aw
David Grant, Mayor
ATTEST:
A h/
J Hanson, City Clerk
122315740