Through end of January 2021, state has received $3.68 billion through CARES Act and other programs
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released her ninth monthly report detailing state government’s use of federal stimulus dollars intended for the COVID-19 response. Last year, Auditor Galloway announced that her office would examine the state’s distribution and spending of funding received under the CARES Act and other federal assistance programs passed by Congress.
The most recent report shows Missouri’s spending of federal assistance for the month of January, as well as the cumulative expenditures since the state began receiving funding in April. Through Jan. 31, 2021, Missouri has received $3.68 billion and spent $2.29 billion of this assistance. In January, the state spent $29 million.
A significant portion of the expenditures to date were for services through the state’s Medicaid program, MO HealthNet and other programs receiving federal matching funds ($402 million), and funding passed through to counties and the City of St. Louis ($521 million). Other funding has been provided to schools, institutions of higher education, child care providers, long-term care facilities, and developmental disabilities waiver providers. Funds have also been used for food and nutrition programs, mental health services, purchase of personal protective equipment, virus testing, contact tracing, workforce development, economic development programs for small businesses, COVID-19 dedicated personnel costs, and other disaster relief purposes.
In February, the legislature passed and the Governor signed a supplemental appropriations bill to spend $324 million in funding for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. That program was passed by Congress in December 2020. The program’s passage made funding available to state and local governments to assist households unable to pay rent and utilities due to the pandemic.
In addition to the monthly report examining the state’s spending, the Auditor’s Office also has an online tool to give Missourians a detailed look at expenditures. The COVID-19 Response page tracks not only how much is received and expended in relief funds, but also lists which state and local government departments, vendors and expense categories are receiving the most funding. The information on the website provides data on expenditures and is updated regularly.
Auditor Galloway’s efforts are similar to work performed by the previous State Auditor’s administration, which reviewed the state’s use of funds received through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Under Article IV, Section 13 of the Missouri Constitution, the State Auditor has a duty to ensure the accuracy of the state’s accounting of its spending.
A copy of the report on Missouri spending of federal assistance can be found here.
