Local governments turn away $73M of federal pandemic aid


              Mark Delaney, Mayor of Village of the Branch, a village in the Town of Smithtown in Suffolk County, stands for a portrait on Old Route 111, now serving as a walking path used by residents to avoid the precarious major thoroughfare nearby, Thursday, June 2, 2022, in Smithtown, N.Y. From small towns to big cities, every government across the U.S. was offered a slice of $350 billion of federal coronavirus relief funds intended to help shore up their finances, fight the virus and invest in community projects. Nearly 1,500 local government said "no," turning down a total of about $60 million of aid, according to an Associated Press analysis. At least few later regretted the decision, wishing with hindsight that they had taken the money. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
            
              Mark Delaney, Mayor of Village of the Branch, walks along Old Route 111, now serving as a walking path used by residents to avoid the precarious major thoroughfare nearby, Thursday, June 2, 2022, in Smithtown, N.Y. From small towns to big cities, every government across the U.S. was offered a slice of $350 billion of federal coronavirus relief funds intended to help shore up their finances, fight the virus and invest in community projects. Nearly 1,500 local government said "no," turning down a total of about $60 million of aid, according to an Associated Press analysis. At least few later regretted the decision, wishing with hindsight that they had taken the money. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
            
              Mark Delaney, Mayor of Village of the Branch, a village in the Town of Smithtown in Suffolk County, walks along Old Route 111, now serving as a walking path used by residents to avoid the precarious major thoroughfare nearby, Thursday, June 2, 2022, in Smithtown, N.Y. From small towns to big cities, every government across the U.S. was offered a slice of $350 billion of federal coronavirus relief funds intended to help shore up their finances, fight the virus and invest in community projects. Nearly 1,500 local government said "no," turning down a total of about $60 million of aid, according to an Associated Press analysis. At least few later regretted the decision, wishing with hindsight that they had taken the money. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
            Mark Delaney, Mayor of Village of the Branch, a village in the Town of Smithtown in Suffolk County, stands outside Village Hall, Thursday, June 2, 2022, in Smithtown, N.Y. From small towns to big cities, every government across the U.S. was offered a slice of $350 billion of federal coronavirus relief funds intended to help shore up their finances, fight the virus and invest in community projects. Nearly 1,500 local government said "no," turning down a total of about $60 million of aid, according to an Associated Press analysis. At least few later regretted the decision, wishing with hindsight that they had taken the money. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) Mark Delaney, Mayor of Village of the Branch, a village in the Town of Smithtown in Suffolk County, walks along Old Route 111, now serving as a walking path used by residents to avoid the precarious major thoroughfare nearby, Thursday, June 2, 2022, in Smithtown, N.Y. From small towns to big cities, every government across the U.S. was offered a slice of $350 billion of federal coronavirus relief funds intended to help shore up their finances, fight the virus and invest in community projects. Nearly 1,500 local government said "no," turning down a total of about $60 million of aid, according to an Associated Press analysis. At least few later regretted the decision, wishing with hindsight that they had taken the money. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) Mayor Willie Richter poses for a photo outside city hall Friday, May 27, 2022, in West Alton, Mo. The small city at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers turned down a potential $106,341 of federal coronavirus aid. The rejected amount was almost half the size of the city's budget. From small towns to big cities, every government across the U.S. was offered a slice of $350 billion of federal coronavirus relief funds to help shore up their finances, cover pandemic-related costs and invest in community projects. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Mayor Willie Richter poses for a photo inside city hall Friday, May 27, 2022, in West Alton, Mo. The small city at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers turned down a potential $106,341 of federal coronavirus aid. The rejected amount was almost half the size of the city's budget. From small towns to big cities, every government across the U.S. was offered a slice of $350 billion of federal coronavirus relief funds to help shore up their finances, cover pandemic-related costs and invest in community projects. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Mayor Willie Richter poses for a photo inside city hall Friday, May 27, 2022, in West Alton, Mo. The small city at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers turned down a potential $106,341 of federal coronavirus aid. The rejected amount was almost half the size of the city's budget. From small towns to big cities, every government across the U.S. was offered a slice of $350 billion of federal coronavirus relief funds to help shore up their finances, cover pandemic-related costs and invest in community projects. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)