BAKERSVILLE – Mitchell County submitted its plan Thursday, May 28, to the North Carolina Pandemic Recovery Office Coronavirus Relief Fund, or CRF.
The county, which was offered $493,469 to offset coronavirus-related costs, was required to submit a plan by June 1 outlining how it would use those funds.
A majority of the money, $368,469, will go toward payroll expenses for “employees who are substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency.”
The rest of the funding will be allocated to other areas. According to the plan, $30,000 will go toward medical expenses, $55,000 will go toward public health expenses and $25,000 will go toward “expenses of actions to facilitate compliance with COVID-19 related public health measures,” such as costs to improve telework or food delivery.
The town of Bakersville will receive $5,000, and Spruce Pine will receive $10,000.
Mitchell County Manager Tim Greene said the county must provide documentation to the state or the funding could be rescinded.
“We’ve got to maintain adequate documentation,” Greene said. “If we spend it on things we’re not supposed to spend it on, non-COVID-related expenses, we will have to repay that money.”
Greene also said the plan could be altered at a later date if certain areas require more or less money.
At a special session on Wednesday, May 27, the commissioners were presented with the template of the CRF plan and discussed where funds should be allocated. The board approved a motion allowing Greene and county finance officer Mavis Parsley to submit the plan.
“Well, you [Parsley] and Tim are much smarter than we are, so you all figure out a plan how you want to spend this money and let us know,” said Jacob Willis, chair of the board of commissioners.