Whitley says Tarrant County needs more funds for COVID relief. State leaders disagree.
Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley isn’t giving up.
He got a letter Friday from top state officials saying that neither Tarrant County, nor 10 of the state’s other largest counties, will get more of the federal coronavirus relief funds given to Texas than what has already been given out.
Even so, Whitley said, he hopes state leaders will change their minds and be able to contribute more.
“We are trying to give money to those who most need it,” Whitley said. “We hope the state can match that. We feel the need is far greater than what we are able to give.”
In March, Congress approved the CARES Act that set aside $150 billion to be divided among states for conoravirus relief. Texas received $11.2 billion and Tarrant County in April received $210 million, an amount based on population, from the state.
Whitley and the 10 other county judges sent Abbott a letter May 13 asking for more CARES money.
They noted that about 68.9% of the coronavirus cases in Texas had occurred in their communities at the time they sent the letter.
But the funding they received “represents only 28.6 percent of the State’s $11.24 billion allocation. Therein lies the problem — we account for 68.9 percent of all cases and received only 28.6 percent of all CRF funds,” the May 13 letter stated. “Thus, we ask you to address this shortfall.
“Our cities need additional access to (Coronavirus Relief Fund) funds as do our counties.”
A letter on Friday signed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, House Speaker Dennis Bonnen and other officials said that isn’t possible.
“It is unreasonable to demand additional dollars be allocated locally at this time,” stated the letter addressed to Whitley and his counterparts in Travis, Montgomery, Harris, Hidalgo, Dallas, Fort Bend, Bexar, Denton, El Paso and Williamson counties.
“This pandemic is bigger than any one of us,” the letter stated. “An effective response and recovery will take all Texans working together. We look forward to continued partnership.”
Federal funding
Abbott’s letter Friday noted that the CARES funding is designed to help both local and state officials respond to the coronavirus pandemic.
And he stressed the work the state is doing, from surge teams sent to Texas communities that see a spike in COVID cases to the personal protection equipment “chain” that distributes about 1 million masks a day throughout Texas.
“The Governor’s Office and legislative leadership spent a great deal of time determining the best way to ensure that all of Texas has access to the resources needed to combat COVID-19 in their areas,” Abbott’s letter — which also was signed by top budget writers in the House and Senate, state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, and state Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound — stated. “Texas’ total state and local allocation was based upon population.
“Similarly, the direct payments to your counties were based on population.”
Tarrant dollars
On May 19, Whitley and the Tarrant County Commissioners Court sent Abbott and other top state officials another letter.
This letter detailed how some of the CARES money will be spent throughout Tarrant County.
Tarrant workers have reached out to cities throughout the county except for Fort Worth, which directly received federal funding, to see which ones need funds to directly help residents impacted by COVID with everything from rent or utility assistance to shoring up food banks.
At the same time, county officials are working to develop criteria to help small businesses throughout the county.
“Our Tarrant County community faces historic unemployment and families are hurting and struggling to put food on the table,” the May 19 letter stated.
Tarrant officials went on to ask the state to match the amount the county is spending on testing and public health needs ($38 million), funding to cities in Tarrant ($62 million), rental assistance ($20 million), small business assistance ($30 million) and non-profit assistance ($20 million).
“We understand we are all in this together,” Whitley said. “I am hopeful after the state has paid for all the costs associated with COVID statewide, they will take some of the remainder of the money and match what we are giving out.”
