Tuesday, April 7, 2020 | 2:19 p.m.
The state’s Interim Finance Committee has approved multiple allocations of $1 million or more for disaster relief as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The committee, which met remotely, approved a $6.25 million appropriation from the state’s Disaster Relief Fund, as well as a $2 million donation from the state Attorney General’s Office to the United Way.
The Disaster Relief Fund has almost $12.8 million available, officials said.
The appropriation from the fund was split into two: $5 million for medical equipment and a $1.25 million for the state’s portion of an anticipated FEMA grant.
The money will go to the State Emergency Operations Center, which can allocate the funding to local or tribal governments based on requests.
“The local governments and tribal governments are working very hard and spending whatever money they also have to purchase their own resources, equipment and supplies,” said Justin Luna, the chief of the state Division of Emergency Management Administration. The governments will be able to submit reimbursement requests, he said.
The allocation was approved unanimously.
The money from the Attorney General’s Office will come from a$13.3 million settlement in 2018 with Wells Fargo & Co. to resolve claims the bank violated state consumer protection laws.
The money will supplement funds from the federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program to help Nevadans afford stable housing.
Jessica Adair, the Attorney General’s Office chief of staff, raised concerns that the coronavirus crisis will result in evictions.
While Gov. Steve Sisolak has placed a moratorium on evictions, that doesn’t mean tenants don’t have to pay rent.
Adair said she hears from Nevadans with bills piling up and who are potentially looking an eviction down the road due to the pandemic’s economic impact.
Total allocations are not set in stone, but it’s estimated that the United Way of Southern Nevada will receive $1.6 million, while the United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra will receive $400,000.
The difference in allocations in Northern and Southern Nevada raised concerns among a few Republican lawmakers, including Assemblyman Jim Wheeler, R-Minden, who said it felt like rural counties were being ignored.
Rep. Al Kramer, R-Carson City, expressed skepticism about giving money to nongovernmental entities when Sisolak has called for budget cuts across state agencies.
“I really think we ought to be holding onto this money to hold onto state needs,” he said
Reps. Wheeler, Kramer and Robin Titus, R-Wellington, along with state Sen. Ben Kieckhefer, R-Reno, voted against the allocation. Assemblywoman Maggie Carlton abstained from the vote.
