Greenspan Supports Millions in COVID-19 Relief Funding, Reform for Unemployment Compensation System

The Legislation Now Heads to the Governor

State Rep. Dave Greenspan (R-Westlake) announces that he supported and the General Assembly approved House Bill 614, which provides $650 million of federal CARES Act funding to local communities across Ohio for COVID-19 pandemic-related expenses. The funding will be made available to counties, municipalities, and townships.

House Bill 614 will also improve Ohio’s unemployment compensation system by creating the Unemployment Compensation Modernization and Improvement Council to evaluate the claim filing process and technological infrastructure. Under the bill, the Auditor of State is required to examine and make recommendations on the efficiency of the process, and the Director of Job and Family Services is required to create a constituent referral system and strategic staffing plan to better serve Ohioans.

“COVID-19 has created negative financial situations for so many entities and people across our state,” said Greenspan. “This critical funding is necessary to aid our local communities with those recurring COVID-19 expenses, simultaneously, this pandemic has shown that our unemployment compensation system needs serious changes – this legislation takes decisive action on that front.”

The $650 million for COVID-19 pandemic-related expenses incurred by local governments is for between March 1 and the end of 2020 while unused dollars will be returned to the state.

Some of the allocations for the area includes the following:

  • Bay Village – $547,527
  • Fairview Park – $582,374
  • Rocky River – $720,210
  • Westlake – $1,154,297
  • North Olmsted City – $1,129,396

Greenspan also announced significant state Controlling Board funding back in August, which supported pandemic-related expenses, including the work of first responders and other local services that have been vital in areas across Ohio. The measure is similar to the approval of $350 million to help local governments by the Ohio House of Representative under House Bill 481, which Greenspan supported and was signed into law over the summer.

The legislation contains an emergency clause and will be effective immediately upon the governor’s signature.