College students find Murphy's $60 million COVID aid unfair

by Priyanka Sarkhel

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced $60 million in aid for counties and municipalities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) is going to counties and municipalities that were excluded from the federal government’s CRF allocation plan. The New Jersey state government claims that the CRF will help address extra costs in public health, public safety, overtime, and supplies. 

The New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) is supporting the County Boards of Social Services with up to $10 million from the CRF. This money is meant to cover COVID related expenses. 

Here is a list of New Jersey counties and the amount of funds they will be receiving from the CRF.

• Atlantic: $6,318,936
• Burlington: $8,187,352
• Cape May: $1,305,162
• Cumberland: $6,931,225
• Gloucester: $4,858,821
• Hunterdon: $948,183
• Mercer: $12,593,962
• Morris: $8,415,816
• Salem: $1,538,872
• Somerset: $6,367,176
• Sussex: $1,319,462
• Warren: $1,755,034

The allocation of funds was determined by the Local Government Emergency Fund formula, which looks at the COVID-19 infection rates, shortage of funds, the Municipal Revitalization Index (MRI), and the population of the county or municipality. 

While the Governor and other New Jersey congressmen have expressed pride and joy over the CRF, many New Jersey residents whose counties were not included in the CRF are confused over what the celebrations are about. 

Rania Rizvi, a Rutgers University student, says that she finds it strange that Middlesex County was not included in the list. 

“Even though it can be said that Middlesex is a lot more affluent than other counties, there are still a lot of people here that are not privileged,” Rizvi said. “There’s a huge homeless problem right in New Brunswick.” 

Rizvi also expressed confusion about why Mercer County is receiving more than $12 million in funds. 

“West Windsor, another affluent town, is in Mercer County. Do they really need $12 million?” Rizvi said. “I understand allocating funds for Trenton, but $12 million? It feels like overkill.” 

Others noted that many of the counties who did receive funds are South Jersey counties, which are predominantly anti-COVID policies. 

Sneha Santosh, a Somerset County native and college sophomore, says that she thinks allocating so much money to anti-COVID policy counties is unfair.

“To be honest, the only reason Murphy is spending any time providing money to those counties is because they are a main draw of tourism in New Jersey,” Santosh said. “Middlesex being completely ignored is terrible because the people in this county actually really need the help, and they will actually follow through with the money.”

Santosh says she thinks the counties with a lack of COVID restrictions will do nothing with the money they are receiving. 

“Those counties have gotten funding because of their status as New Jersey cash counties,” Santosh said. “Murphy is sacrificing lives in order for New Jersey to have acceptable revenue this year.” 

Some noticed how Murphy’s CRF decision, which was announced Oct. 14, 2021, was very close to the gubernatorial election, which Murphy barely won. 

Daniela Tacuri, a Rutgers University student, says it is obvious that Murphy wanted to win red counties over with the CRF. 

“I definitely think he was trying to paint himself in a good light in the Republican counties,” Tacuri said. “Otherwise, it would make no sense to send millions of dollars over to places where they do not even care about COVID.”

Tacuri says there should be more focus on the people who are following the rules.

“Everyone at Rutgers and Middlesex has been wearing masks and getting vaccinated,” Tacuri said. “Why don’t we start by helping the people here?”

Gov. Murphy Provides $60 Million Dollar COVID Relief Fund

Governor Phil Murphy has announced a $60 million COVID relief fund for select New Jersey counties.

The money will be appointed to local government entities who did not receive help from the
federal government’s initial coronavirus relief plan, according to a news release.
The counties included in this CRF plan are Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland,
Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren.

The funding will help with the unexpected increased cost of health and human services, public
safety, overtime, equipment, and supplies due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Allocations for this plan varies. According to the Department of Community Affairs, Mercer
County will receive $12.5 million. And Hunterdon County will get about $900,000, according to
the release.

To determine how funds will be allocated to each county, a formula including statistics about
COVID-19 infection rate, town population, fiscal stress, and mandatory expenditures has all
been taken into account.

The New Jersey Department of Human Services has provided about $10 million to the
Coronavirus Relief Fund to support the Boards of Social Services with COVID-related expenses
such as technology to adapt to increased remote work.

The federal government’s funding plan, known as the CARES Act, did allocate money to the
state of New Jersey, but many counties were overlooked. Until now citizens of these
municipalities were the sole providers for their coronavirus crisis funding.

“We know these funds will be a welcome lifeline of support for essential government services
and New Jersey’s taxpayers,” Murphy says.

Department of Community Affairs Lieutenant Governor Sheila Y. Oliver says, “We will work to
distribute this relief funding equitably and fairly to our communities as we rebuild the State’s
economy. No one will be left behind.”

Although the money will only be distributed to a select few counties, it will even the field of
funds awarded to everyone- now with all 21 counties being served.

The funds awarded to these local government entities may only cover the expenditures incurred
during the period between March 1, 2020 and December 30, 2020.

Governor Murphy Provides $60 Million in COVID Relief Funding

 Today, Governor Phil Murphy announced $60 Million in funding from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) for the Local Government Emergency Fund that will be allocated to support counties and municipalities that were excluded from the federal government’s direct CRF allocation plan.  

The New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) will also be providing up to $10 million from the Coronavirus Relief Fund to support the state’s County Boards of Social Services with COVID-related expenses such as technology to adapt to remote work, expanding to meet growing demand, and supplies and materials to meet COVID-19 health and safety standards. 

Many New Jersey officials are in support of the CRF funding and believe New Jersey residents will benefit from this funding. 

Congressman Donald Norcross says these resources will provide New Jersey’s local governments with funding that will help cover unexpected costs caused by the pandemic. He also says that the funding will help keep first responders and other essential workers safe and on the job. 

Qualifying expenditures for the Local Government Emergency Fund include public safety and health-related expenses, COVID-19-related overtime, increased residential and health-related garbage collection and services, remote working technology, signage and information technology related to the COVID-19 response and recovery, and public health-related retrofit expenses for reopening. 

Congressman Andy Kim says it is important to help communities to stay safe and healthy. She says she will continue to work with her colleagues in Congress to find bipartisan solutions to help New Jersey until the pandemic comes to an end and working people are back on their feet. 

To further assist communities and small businesses in recovery efforts, DCA announced last week a $7.5 million federal appropriation through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for three relief programs to help vulnerable small businesses financially impacted by the pandemic. 

The programs aim to promote the continued recovery and revitalization of communities that currently participate in the Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP), Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program (NRTC), and Main Street New Jersey Program

The CRF funding will provide support for 13 counties out of the 21 counties in New Jersey. 

The Local Government Emergency Fund allocation formula uses a variety of relevant metrics, including the municipal COVID-19 infection rate, fiscal stress, the Municipal Revitalization Index (MRI), population, and public safety and health and human services expenditures share of the budget to determine the amount of funds counties and municipalities receive.

Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs ( DCA) Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver says the DCA will work to distribute the funding equitable and fairly to the communities. “No one will be left behind,” she says.  

The fund allocations by county (including distributions to municipal governments) are listed below.

Atlantic $6,318,936 Burlington $8,187,352 Cape May $1,305,162 Cumberland $6,391,225 Gloucester $4,858,821 Hunterdon $948,183 Mercer $12,593,962 Morris $8,415,816

Salem $1,538,872

Somerset $6,367,176

Sussex $1,319,462 Warren $1,755,034

Govenor Murphy gives $60 million in Covid 19 aid to New Jersey Counties

Local counties in New Jersey that have been greatly impacted by Covid 19 are being granted relief funds in hopes to repairing financial damage the pandemic has caused.

“Local governments have stepped up to meet the needs of their communities throughout this pandemic, and we are strengthening their efforts today with $60 million dollars in direct relief” says Murphy. 

The New Jersey Department of Human Services is also providing up to $10 million in relief funds.

These funds will be used to continue to support covid 19 related expenses and benefit citizens as well.

COVID-related expenses such as technology to adapt to remote work, expanding to meet growing demand, and supplies and materials to meet COVID-19 health and safety standards. 

This is beneficial to many people and businesses considering that many are still uncomfortable with returning to working person because of this pandemic.

The State is trying its best at helping local businesses adjust to the new normal.

Municipalities that are eligible can apply for reimbursement for up to 100% of their eligible costs up to their maximum allocation amount. 

Eligible expenditures must be incurred during the covered period between March 1, 2020 and December 30, 2020. 

Qualifying expenses for the relief funds include public safety and health-related expenses, COVID-19-related overtime, increased residential and health-related garbage collection and services, remote working technology, signage, and information technology related to the COVID-19 response and recovery.

Applicants can contact the program staff at LGEF@dca.nj.gov to get information on program, program needs, and help with submission of the application. 

To assist small businesses who have been financially impacted by the pandemic approximately $7 million dollars are being allocated through the (Cares) act initiative. 

To decide which counties would receive funds, The Local Government Emergency Fund used data like COVID-19 infection rate, fiscal stress, the Municipal Revitalization Index (MRI), population, and public safety and health records,

12 New Jersey counties will be allocated funds such as Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Morris, Mercer, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren County.  

This is great news for small businesses owners in these because at the brink of the pandemic non-essential businesses were forced to shut down affecting business owners severely.

Besides businesses local communities will benefit from the allocation of funds as well. 

The CARES act program is working together with DCA’s covid 19 relief programs to quickly invest money into small landlord’s, impacted communities in the wake of the pandemic, and business. 

Gov. Murphy Provides $60 Million in Aid to Combat COVID-19

Governor Murphy announced a $60 million from the Coronavirus Relief Fund for the Local Government Emergency Fund to aid counties and municipalities that were excluded from government funds.  

The relief funds will help to address the necessary and unexpected needs of the people of New Jersey to combat COVID-19.  

The New Jersey Department of Health Services has also helped by providing $10 million to the fund to help give workers the necessary technology to work remotely and other necessities.  

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted various counties and local governments in the state. They are now facing an increase in costs for health benefits, health and human services, public safety, overtime, equipment and supplies. 

Governor Murphy believes these funds will help local governments to fight the pandemic and get the people of the state the supplies they need.  

“Local governments have stepped up to meet the needs of their communities throughout this pandemic, and we are strengthening their efforts today with $60 million dollars in direct relief,” said Governor Murphy. “We know these funds will be a welcome lifeline of support for essential government services and New Jersey’s taxpayers.” 

Qualifying expenditures for the Local Government Emergency Fund include public safety and health-related expenses, COVID-19-related overtime, increased residential and health-related garbage collection and services. It also includes remote working technology, signage and information technology related to the COVID-19 response and recovery, and public health-related retrofit expenses for reopening. 

Congressman Daniel Norcross, who alongside Gov. Murphy put the act in place, will give the state the funding to help essential workers and their communities. 

“These resources will provide our local governments with the vital funding needed to help cover unexpected costs from the pandemic and keep our first responders and other essential workers safe and on the job,” said Norcross. “I’ll continue to fight for New Jersey in Congress to ensure our communities get the tools and supplies we need to combat this outbreak and keep residents healthy and secure.” 

The $60 million that will be allocated by using a formula called the Municipal Revitalization Index that uses a variety of relevant metrics, including the municipal COVID-19 infection rate, fiscal stress, population and public safety and health and human services expenditures share of the budget to determine the amount of funds counties and municipalities receive. 

Below is a chart of the counties in New Jersey that will be receiving funding and how much they will be getting according to the index. 

County 

Initial Allocation 

Atlantic 

$6,318,936 

Burlington 

$8,187,352 

Cape May 

$1,305,162 

Cumberland 

$6,391,225 

Gloucester 

$4,858,821 

Hunterdon 

$948,183 

Mercer 

$12,593,962 

Morris 

$8,415,816 

Salem 

$1,538,872 

Somerset 

$6,367,176 

Sussex 

$1,319,462 

Warren 

$1,755,034 

There are some counties left out for the funding including Monmouth, Middlesex and Bergen County.  

To further assist small businesses and communities, DCA announced last week a $7.5 million federal appropriation through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security. DCA's COVID-19 relief programs are part of a coordinated State effort to invest needed dollars into small businesses, small landlords, and impacted communities in the wake of the pandemic. 

Eligible municipalities may also seek and apply for reimbursement for up to 100% of their eligible costs incurred, up to their maximum total allocation amount.