State remains silent about withheld $400 million for local gov.

SALEM, Ore. – The United States Treasury allocated nearly $1.6 billion of coronavirus relief funds to the State of Oregon in April. Now, multiple Oregon counties are wondering where $400 million dollars have gone.

So far, counties state-wide have only received $200 million. Local governments were promised $600 million of the original sum.

Josephine County commissioners said the battle to get this funding has been hard-fought.

“We’re on weekly calls with Jackson County,” said Josephine County Commissioner Lily Morgan. “With both associations of Oregon counties, and with the governor’s office. We have, as an association, been asking this statewide.”

Morgan said the state distributed less than half of the funds on a per-capita basis. She explained new stipulations on the federal funding continue to be added on, keeping the money in the state’s hands. She said county-run operations like sheriff offices, fire departments and public health agencies are facing the brunt of the lack of relief.

Morgan asked the community to contact the state legislature directly to ask for the funds to be disbursed.