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California State Auditor Logo COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • LEADERSHIP

State High Risk Update—Coronavirus Relief Fund
California Should Have Allocated More Funding to Small Counties

Report Number: 2020-610

Figure 1

Figure 1 is a flow chart that shows how the Legislature allocated the State’s $9.5 Billion in Coronavirus Relief Funds to five priority areas. First, it shows that the Legislature allocated $4.5 billion in Coronavirus Relief Funds to K-12 Education and Community Colleges for learning loss mitigation resulting from COVID-19 closures. The figure then shows the Legislature allocated $550 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds to the Department of Housing and Community Development for emergency housing for homeless individuals and families. Third, the figure shows the Legislature allocated $1.3 billion in Coronavirus Relief Funds to counties to address public health and safety needs due to COVID-19. Fourth, it shows the Legislature allocated $500 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds to cities to address increased homelessness due to COVID-19 economic impacts and for additional public safety services. Lastly, the figure shows the Legislature allocated $2.7 billion in Coronavirus Relief Funds to the state General Fund to reimburse COVID-19-related expenditures.

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Figure 2

Figure 2 shows that the amount of per-person Coronavirus Relief Funds that the 16 large counties received was nearly double the amount of the 42 small counties. The figure notes at the top that the 16 large counties each have more than 500,000 residents and the 42 small counties each have fewer than 500,000 residents. The figure shows the large counties are Alameda County, Contra Costa County, Fresno County, Kern County, Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, Sacramento County, San Bernardino County, San Diego County, San Joaquin County, San Mateo County, San Francisco County, Santa Clara County, Stanislaus County, and Ventura County. The figure shows that large counties received $174 per person from the federal government and either $16 or $23 per person from the State, for a total of $190 or $197 per person. The figure includes a note at the bottom that for the 16 large counties Finance allocated $290 million to five counties, or $16 per person, and $354 million to 11 counties, or $23 per person. The figure also shows that the 42 small counties received $0 from the federal government and $102 per person from the State, for a total $102 per person.

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Figure 3

Figure 3 shows that some small counties had COVID-19 case rates as high as large counties. The figure notes that large counties have populations greater than 500,000 residents and small counties have fewer than 500,000 residents. The figure shows only the counties with case rates greater than 500 cases per 100,000 residents from April 2020 through June 2020. Specifically, the figure shows four large counties and their case rates per 100,000 residents during the period: Kern County had 519 cases, Los Angeles County had 989 cases, Riverside County had 776 cases, and San Bernardino County had 569 cases.  The figure also shows six small counties and their case rates per 100,000 residents during the period: Imperial County had 3,215 cases, Kings County had 1,525 cases, Lassen County had 749 cases, Marin County had 592 cases, Santa Barbara County had 691 cases, and Tulare County had 888 cases. At the bottom, the figure highlights that large counties received at least $190 per person in total CRF funds, while small counties received $102 per person.

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