PHOENIX – Gov. Doug Ducey is beginning to dole out money state lawmakers gave him to deal with COVID-19 before they went into recess.
A new report from the Joint Legislative Budget Committee finds that the state is allocating the biggest chunk of the first $55 million approved last month for medical supplies to treat the virus. That includes $10 million for ventilators, $8.5 million for masks, $500,000 for isolation gowns and $100,000 for hand sanitizer.
There’s another $3 million to purchase equipment and other supplies needed to process COVID-19 tests, both in the state’s own health laboratory and private labs.
The governor also is making $5.8 million directly available to counties and $1.2 million to tribes for local preparedness and response.
Money is also going to two organizations to help them expand child care for parents working in essential services, with $2.4 million to the YMCA and $1.1 million to the Boys and Girls Clubs.
And the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs will get $1.8 million for expenses related to activation of the Arizona National Guard and to run the State Emergency Operations Center.
That still leaves $35.1 million because the state also got another $11.7 million in federal dollars from the Corona Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act signed last month by President Trump.
Spending by the governor has been slower in spending a separate $50 million lawmakers allocated as part of the budget deal.
That budget provision does have a few strings attached to it. Lawmakers said the funds may only be used for housing assistance, homeless services, economic assistance to small businesses with fewer than 50 employees.
As of the most recent JLBC report, Ducey provided $5 million in assistance to homeless shelters, specifically for temporary isolation and quarantine housing, along with supplies and services, to prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19.
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