Title
Resolution authorizing an Emergency Appropriation for Vaccination Efforts from the Health Department Fund Balance.
Staff Summary
• On May 11, 2021, the County Board approved an emergency appropriation in the amount of $2,596,690 for vaccination efforts in the Health Department Fund. The joint resolution approved at that time referred to an attachment with the detailed budget, but the attachment was inadvertently left off.
• The expenses funded by this emergency appropriation are eligible for and expected to be reimbursed through FEMA Public Assistance.
• Staff is requesting reconsideration and approval of this action with the detailed budget detail attached for administrative documentation purposes.
Body
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Lake County Health Department has been on the front lines of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency since the start of the pandemic in March 2020 and since December 2020 has been distributing vaccines to combat the spread of the virus; and
WHEREAS, vaccination distribution will need to continue well into FY 2021 using a Health Department budget that did not contain continuous funding for mass vaccination points of dispensing (POD); and
WHEREAS, the American Rescue Plan provided $50 billion to the FEMA Public Assistance program for 100% reimbursement to entities for eligible vaccination distribution expenses, and in an effort to maximize funding sources, County Administration made the determination that the FEMA Public Assistance program shall be the first funding source used to fund vaccination distribution efforts; and
WHEREAS, the FEMA Public Assistance Program is a reimbursement-based program and non-federal funds will need to be made available upfront for necessary expenses; and
WHEREAS, funding is available in fund reserves for use during the Public Health Emergency and, similar to the strategy of maximizing available funding sources, Lake County shall also maximize the use of reserves from the appropriate locations; and
WHEREAS, sufficient reserves are available in the Health Department Fund balance and supporting vaccination distribution during a Public Health Emergency is an appropriate use of the Health Department Fund balance; and
WHEREAS, the funds will be used for vaccine provision and distribution efforts in Lake County, eligible spends will be tracked and processed by the Health Department, and County Administration will manage and submit the necessary documentation to obtain 100% reimbursement through the FEMA Public Assistance Program back into the Health Department Fund balance; and
WHEREAS, any funds unspent from the emergency appropriation will automatically be returned to the Health Department Fund balance; and
WHEREAS, based on Health Department analysis, an emergency appropriation in an amount of $2,596,690 is necessary for FY 2021 to provide for Mass Vaccination POD sites.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that an emergency appropriation in the amount of $2,596,690 is hereby authorized in the FY21 budget in the Health Department Fund, as distributed by account in the attachment, which will be funded from Fund 210 Health Department Fund balance.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on July 13, 2021.