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Millions of dollars in overtime pay and personnel costs to handle the pandemic topped the lists of COVID costs in Connecticut, according to interim data received by the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management.
The OPM created the Municipal Coronavirus Relief fund to help cities and states with expenses related to the pandemic using federal money through the CARES Act, according to The Associated Press. It reimburses them for costs. Other federal and state programs have provided funding, as well.
So far, the state's 169 municipalities reported a total of about $41.6 million spent from July 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021. Of that figure, $10.8 million went toward "overtime related to response," and another $10.1 million was for "public safety personnel costs." There was also $4.8 million spent for "public health personnel costs", the AP reported.
Hartford put the largest amount spent toward overtime with $3 million. It is followed by Bridgeport with $2.24 million and New Haven with $2.05 million.
A final report for Municipal Relief Fund spending is due in January.
There are concerns about how the money is being spent. OPM told municipal leaders the previous month that the state is checking expenses and using an independent firm to audit Municipal Relief Fund spending.
About $2.1 million from the fund went toward cleaning and disinfecting buildings, according to data posted online. The cost of personal protection equipment added up to $2 million, $900,000 was spent on cleaning supplies and $1.6 million went toward local health department costs.
There was also "hero" pay, which front-line workers have asked for. Only six municipalities had reported spending money on such pay, totaling over $423,000, with Hartford again spending the most with $372,000.
For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below.
On Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford, joined by a group of activists, reiterated the GOP's call for greater transparency in how the pandemic relief funds are being spent and demanded that a bipartisan public hearing be held to "shine a light on this process." The group pointed to the recent arrest of a former West Haven official and state legislator and his business partner who've been accused of misusing more than $600,000 in federal COVID-19 relief funds.
"We believe people have a right to know how their money is being spent and must have guarantees that their tax dollars are making it to where it is intended to go," Kelly said.
Cynthia Jennings, a civil rights attorney and a former member of the Hartford City Council, said she and other Black Democrats are supporting Kelly's call for hearings after the West Haven arrests. She said both parties have "a common interest in assuring that every Connecticut community, including black and brown communities, receives their fair share of COVID-19 moneys."
Melissa McCaw, secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, has said one of her agency's main pandemic duties is reviewing the use of federal funds by municipalities, contending the "process will be thorough." The federal government has rules for how municipalities can use the funds, and the expenditures are subject to a federal audit.
