Crosscut Now
Apr. 5, 2022 - Six WA cities left federal relief unclaimed
4/5/2022 | 1m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
Why six small WA cities left thousands in federal relief unclaimed.
Politics were not a factor in refusing federal money, officials from the cities say.
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Crosscut Now is a local public television program presented by Cascade PBS
Crosscut Now
Apr. 5, 2022 - Six WA cities left federal relief unclaimed
4/5/2022 | 1m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
Politics were not a factor in refusing federal money, officials from the cities say.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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As hundreds of Washington cities accepted federal recovery money from the American rescue plan, six left their portion unclaimed, passing up 2.4 million dollars.
These cities were Brier, Creston, South Cle Elum, Krupp, also known as Marlin, Mesa and Kahlotus.
The federal money could be used for things like replacing lost tax revenue, providing hazard pay to essential workers and housing assistance to residents, including rent and mortgage payments.
Some of these towns said they refused the money because they had not racked up any COVID-19 expenses or the necessary paperwork wasn't worth the hassle for the funding.
But mayors and Mesa and Kahlotus said they were unaware the towns missed out.
Mesa's mayor said the previous clerk treasurer failed to bring it to his attention.
And the mayor of Kahlotus said she would've taken the money, had she known about it.
I'm Starla Sampaco by nonprofit Northwest news every day on crosscut.com.
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