CARES Act expenditure report deadline extended to Friday, Oct. 29

The California Department of Finance extended its Cycle 6 Coronavirus Relief Fund reporting deadline to Oct. 29 for any city that has not submitted its full expenditure report. The funds were distributed through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Nearly 30 cities have not yet submitted their reports.

Existing state law limits the period of eligibility to costs incurred from March 1, 2020, through Sept. 1, 2021. It also requires that the October 2021 report be used to determine the level of unspent funds to be returned to the state. Therefore, all funds must be reported as spent for eligible uses. If participation was lower than planned in any area, funds may be used for public health and public safety staff payroll costs, as they are presumed to be substantially dedicated to COVID-19 response. Cities are required to provide high-level documentation, such as general ledger accounts, to back up these expenditures.

Cities unsure about their Cycle 6 status should contact their regional public affairs manager. Additional questions can be sent to CRFReportHelpDesk@dof.ca.gov., which houses all data and communications for state-local CARES Act compliance.