NJ Association of Counties urges Murphy to release federal aid to 12 counties

The New Jersey Association of Counties urged Gov. Phil Murphy to release federal aid money to 12 counties beleaguered by their fight against COVID-19.

The 12 counties have populations of less than 500,000, a critical threshold needed to be eligible to receive direct aid under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, the $2 trillion stimulus bill Congress passed near the start of the pandemic.

“Unfortunately, under the CARES Act, these 12 counties did not receive direct federal aid from the (Coronavirus Relief Fund) simple because their population fell below 500,000 residents but continue to spend millions in limited property taxpayer dollars in battling to the COVID-19 public health crisis,” the group said.

New Jersey dedicated $250 million of its federal aid to the Local Government Relief Fund, which is administered by the Department of Community Affairs, but that money has yet to be released.