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Report: Wyoming To Get More COVID Money Than Any Other State

Wyoming will see the largest financial boost of all the states receiving federal coronavirus assistance, according to a new report from Pew Charitable Trusts.

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This story first appeared on Cowboy State Daily

By Ellen Fike, Cowboy State Daily

Wyoming will see the largest financial boost of all the states receiving federal coronavirus assistance, according to a new report from Pew Charitable Trusts.

According to the report issued Monday, Wyoming is set to receive $1.1 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act, which amounts to more than one-fifth — 22.7% — of its total spending in 2020. South Dakota will receive the second-largest boost, at 20.1%, the report said.

States that were having a hard time paying expenses prior to the pandemic will see the greatest relief from the program, the report said, but it added states that entered the pandemic in relatively good financial positions will also be helped.

“ARPA provides critical breathing room that was rare in the slimmed-down budgets that lingered after the Great Recession, which started at the end of 2007,” it said. “For states that entered the pandemic-driven downturn with robust reserves or otherwise escaped significant budget squeezes, the aid offers even more: an unexpected one-time investment opportunity.

The report also noted that Wyoming has seen multiple rounds of budget cuts within the last year, including the elimination of 324 state positions earlier this year.

Wyoming has received $534 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to date, but another $534 million is anticipated to come sometime next year. The state also has until Dec. 31, 2024 to obligate the ARPA money and until Dec. 31, 2026 to spend it.

Gov. Mark Gordon decided earlier this month that there would be no special session this summer to determine how these federal funds would be spent. Instead, he has assembled a team to better identify what the state needs to do to survive and what can be done to better drive to a future where all of Wyoming can thrive. 

Gordon anticipated directing a fraction of the federal funds already provided to the state to address emergency funding needs this year. He also noted that the federal money will not be used this year to reduce the state’s spending on schools and local governments. 

For the use of the remainder of the federal funds, Gordon identified the following enduring funding criteria:

  •   Have a long-term impact or a return on investment 
  •   Not replenish budget cuts unless the replenishment can be sustained 
  •   Be sustainable and not add to the State’s ongoing financial responsibilities 
  •   Support stimulus over relief 
  •   Where possible, leverage the dollars through matching or buy-in programs  
  •   Create capacity for the future 
  •   Benefit a wide group of citizens 

According to the Pew report, Wisconsin is receiving the smallest boost compared to its spending, at 4.9%.

5 Comments

5 Comments

  1. Avatar photo

    Jeannine Green

    June 30, 2021 at 7:02 pm

    Unbelievable for a state with 50%+ of the population that don’t believe in Covid.

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    Margie Martinez

    June 30, 2021 at 8:17 pm

    Do the people here get the money or is a no answer

  3. Avatar photo

    Monte kennedy

    June 30, 2021 at 8:49 pm

    I wasnt even compensated thur workers comp for a work related unrepairable Rotacuff been in the same ap. For 5 yr and now at 62 yr old have to start living in my 77 chevy van with my dog my ssdi pays me 1000 a mo. After medicare takes 150 per mo u would think a guy that worked his ass off all of his life a glaizer for 28 yr in chey. Seems to me that i shouldnt have to become homeless workers comp an SS could careless

  4. Avatar photo

    Fred Osborn

    July 1, 2021 at 5:27 am

    For a state full of RINO’s who hate Democrats,y’all sure do like handouts. Especially since Wyoming is one of the least vaccinated states.

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    Donna Brown

    July 2, 2021 at 4:04 am

    The states who were the most overtly skeptical there even was a pandemic, the least compliant in donning protective ppe, the most vocal mockers of Democraric initiatives to end the Covid 19 pandemic should be the ones to receive the least amount of economic aid, social benefits. After all, the masses of fools proudly bearing trump flags and whining about “big brother’s interventions” should be the very last to receive anything Dem’s worked endlessly to ensure would exist….

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