By FRED SWIFT
Hamilton County government will share ‘big time’ in the federal stimulus grants to local governments, getting $65,555,000. The money will arrive in two disbursements, the first half on May 10 this year, and the other half on May 10 next year.
The money is designed to recover lost revenue from the national pandemic, and allows it to be spent on any number of services that suffered such pandemic losses, says county grants administrator Todd Clevenger.
Actually, the county did not suffer the extreme losses that some localities experienced. County revenues through property taxes and local income taxes held up fairly well through the past year.
Cities and towns within the county will each receive their own grants based on criteria set by the federal legislation. In total, these amounts will likely exceed the $65 million the county receives.
The money is in addition to the $10 million the county is getting for rent assistance to individuals, a grant being administered by the Washington Township Trustee’s office.
And, all individuals in the county are also due to receive $1,400, with lesser amounts to those whose annual earnings exceed $75,000.
Spending of the county’s grant will be determined by county commissioners and subject to appropriation by the county council.