U.S. Treasury threatens to claw back Arizona funds over anti-masking school grants -Breaking
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© Reuters. While students are enrolled in virtual classes, instructional assistants monitor them as in-person learn resumes. These learning resumes have restrictions to stop the spread of coronavirus diseases (COVID-19), at Wilson Primary School, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A, August 17, 2002.2/2
By David Lawder
WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Treasury said Friday that it had told Arizona officials that the proposed COVID-19 education aid programs targeting schools with no mask mandates in violation of federal aid rules to states and local governments. It may also recoup funding.
In a letter to Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s office, the Treasury said that two programs, including a $163 million grant program https://azgovernor.gov/governor/news/2021/08/governor-ducey-announces-163-million-increase-pupil-funding-schools for schools that follow state laws banning public school mask mandates, are “ineligible uses” of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
Last year, as part of American Rescue Plan COVID-19 aid law, the state and local funding programs totaling $350 million were enacted.
Another Arizona program deemed ineligible https://azgovernor.gov/governor/news/2022/01/governor-ducey-person-learning-will-continue-arizona offers $7,000 education grants to families of students for alternative instruction if their school requires face coverings.
The Treasury advised Arizona to redesign their programs so that they comply with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations on universal masking for K-12 students, teachers and staff.
In a letter, Kathleen Victorino (Treasury’s acting deputy chief of compliance officer) stated that if either step is not taken within sixty calendar days, Treasury may initiate an action to recoup SLFRF money used in violation the eligible uses.
The Department stated it could also withhold Arizona’s 2022 installment from state or local aid funds, until the Treasury has confirmed that education funding issues are solved.
Arizona received $4.2 billion from the State and Local Recovery Funds, based upon its unemployment rate. It also received $2.1 billion last fiscal year. The remainder is due 2022.
Additional allocations to Arizona cities and counties were also made, unaffected from the Treasury’s demands. They included $871 Million for Maricopa County, $203M for Pima County, and $396M for Phoenix.
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