JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Rest of the Federal Care Act Money distributed to the city of Jacksonville should be spent in 30 days.
The government has distributed cash across the country to provide relief amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Jacksonville’s remaining balance is $6 million and if that cash is spent, it will be forfeited.
In April, Mayor Lenny Curry signed a law that allocates about $167 million in Cares Act funds.
The city has spent $161 million so far.
$40 million went to other people who needed to pay their loan bills and applications.
$5 million for eviction and foreclosure.
$35 million went to city-run checks and check sites to retrieve some of what was allocated in cash.
Action News Jax spoke to Tony Vecchio, General Manager of the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.
The zoo closed the pandemic, but the animals still had to be fed and workers paid.
Initially, just over $4 million in the Cares Act went to the zoo.
“We’re still cutting pennies. We still have a budget, but it helps us keep things close to normal,” Vecchio said.
The zoo didn’t have to fire any of its three hundred employees, but it couldn’t plan its employees by the hour.
Breakdown of the Cares Act’s $6 million and its destination:
The zoo is expected to get $1 million more.
He’d get $500, 000.
$1. 5 million would be allocated to the Bar Society to avoid evictions and seizures.
$500,000 goes to nonprofits and for profits that want funds.
$1. 7 million for small business help cards and $750,000 to compensate for COVID bill losses.
Vecchio said cash was limited and that this additional cash would be useful as the business is still slow. Activity was reduced by more than 50%.
On Wednesday, the law will be introduced with the remaining balance and decisions will be made on the allocation of that so that it can be spent by December 30.
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