Guide to Local Recovery Update: March 2

Mar 2, 2022

The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued new guidance for Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds recipients and the White House is hosting the rest of its “Infrastructure School” webinars later this month. At the state level, Gov. Gavin Newsom lifted several pandemic-related executive orders.  

Updated Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds guidance

On Monday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued updated compliance and reporting guidance for Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds recipients. The funding was established under the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021. The update clarifies several points, provides a detailed timeline for reporting, and lists best practices for reporting.

The update includes two sections:

  1. The Treasury Department’s expectations and recommended best practices

a. This includes suggestions for implementing internal controls and effective monitoring, as well as details about allowable uses of funds for certain audit costs, administrative costs, cash management, and sub-recipient monitoring.

b. The Treasury Department recommends that officials refer to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards regulations, in tandem with the updated compliance and reporting guidance, for the full federal regulatory requirements.

2. Required reporting information and a reporting timeline

 a. Cities are required to submit interim reports, project and expenditure reports, and recovery plan performance reports on either a quarterly or annual basis, depending on the type of city, city population, and size of the funding allocation.

b. Since requirements vary, cities are encouraged to review the updated guidance for exact reporting requirements and due dates.

More information about the updated Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds compliance and reporting guidance is available on the Treasury Department's website. Cities are also encouraged to refer to the  Overview of the Final Rule and the  full text of the Final Rule while reviewing the updated compliance and reporting guidelines. For more information or questions, contact Senior Policy and Legislative Affairs Analyst Jessica Sankus.

New infrastructure webinars announced

The White House is hosting the rest of its “Infrastructure School” webinars this month. The series helps local leaders prepare for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which includes an estimated $45.5 billion in funding for the state of California.

Unlike the American Rescue Plan Act, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes competitive and noncompetitive funding, making these webinars, along with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law guidebook, a critical resource. A list of the remaining webinars, along with registration links, is below.

Hundreds of COVID-19 executive orders lifted; state of emergency remains in effect

Gov. Gavin Newsom lifted several pandemic-related executive orders last Friday, most of which impacted county-level health operations. An additional 18 orders will be lifted on March 31 and 15 will expire on June 30.

The remaining provisions are focused on maintaining the state’s testing and vaccination programs, protecting health care capacity, and workplace safety standards.

Following the Friday order, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health updated its Emergency Temporary Standard to align with the California Department of Public Health’s indoor mask guidance.

Effective March 1, masks are no longer required for unvaccinated workers indoors. However, cities can continue to require masks indoors and masks remain strongly recommended for all individuals in most indoor settings. Additionally, employers must still provide a face-covering upon request. Masks are still required for those in high transmission areas.

City officials looking for additional information about the American Rescue Plan Act, the Infrastructure and Jobs Act, or additional recovery tools can visit the Cal Cities Guide to Local Recovery portal.