County reports CARES Act distribution pace and applicant totals; staff to return with reallocation recommendations

April Schupping of CRI updated the commission on the CARES Act distributions. She said two previous distribution batches totaled roughly $310,000 and a third export that afternoon could send out more than $500,000, depending on pending Social Security number verifications. "We currently have received 4,415 individual applications, 256 business applications," Schupping said. "If they were all to be funded at that average rate, the total for individuals would be about $8,600,000 and businesses about $2,300,000."

Schupping reported that, at current average payouts (about 85% of a $2,500 cap, or roughly $2,125 per individual), the existing application pool represents roughly 41% of the allocated funds for individuals if all were approved. Commissioners asked about application pace and staffing and whether funds could be reallocated toward individuals if business take‑up remains low; Manager Lieberman said staff will return at a special meeting in September with recommendations to reallocate pots of funding if warranted.

Staff emphasized a check‑status portal is available on the county website for applicants to track their submission and payment stage. CRI and county staff also described options for weekly distributions, outreach boosts when the county public information office (PIO) circulates notices, and plans to streamline check cutting to reduce the time between approvals and payments.

Next steps: staff will return in early September with recommended reallocations and more detailed reporting; commissioners encouraged continued outreach and a quicker check‑cutting process.