[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6086100,"mediaKeyId","2899441-61e05a5184364d180a78ae83af51b02f","parentId",2899441,"title","City finance staff say state intends to reimburse $47 million ESSER carryover; city would cover shortfall if federal reimbursement fails","audioSeconds",1148,"startMs",2400000,"endMs",3548000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2899441-61e05a5184364d180a78ae83af51b02f&start=2400&end=3548","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2899441-61e05a5184364d180a78ae83af51b02f/thumbnail_2400000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6086100/Springfield-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/City-finance-staff-say-state-intends-to-reimburse-47-million-ESSER-carryover-city-would-cover-shortfall-if-federal-reimbursement-fails","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6086100-905f1d7561a12bafabede9e9a7aa2155/orig.mp4?Expires=1770636182&Signature=NNOK2wrQizpZDIVUhvKFmKfI--g2pBMQE3nc-vV2ipvKPiRShUr01usXJsFSkHn-fy8YdsUJD~gmEvWcCGOaQMnUwu38lA6BMYZp8sNTq09ymQqhdWDNCnzwE81wNfkhK3K8~OFbMoYovX6qOEXZtOljUgR1dl8ozLR5v2y2mSuXLqP~zHqCveEA4PFCqnFy0BW7mfE5Mrcvu8FelhdroD-9H3RNOA2CQNLQ-IyCLIGnzPgoB3DF1627UBYayQ6bS31szhWaywVDItg2QTxhkKMHavTmCZHugoUpaxrX4z37OUv6NZu7X4RBN~woRMd9IRrAmlqk4BMR8WVgaLLsbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Springfield City, MA","date","2025-04-08T18:20:57.273Z","article","At its April 7 meeting the Springfield City Finance Committee received an informational briefing on federal ESSER reimbursements for school construction and building projects and the risk that a $47 million balance could remain unreimbursed. Kathy Bono of the city finance team told the committee the federal government had approved a late-liquidation request for ESSER funds (a carryover) and that the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) had told the city it intends to continue processing reimbursement requests and to reimburse the city for the outstanding balance.

Bono said the federal late-liquidation approval covered about $58 million and that the city has received roughly $11.1 million in reimbursements to date, leaving a balance of about $47 million pending reimbursement. She explained how ESSER reimbursements work: the projects must be completed, all permits, contracts and invoices submitted, and the city must request reimbursement; there is no advance payment — funds are disbursed on a reimbursement basis. The city’s next reimbursement submission was scheduled for around April 20 and was expected to seek roughly $10 million.

Committee members asked what happens if federal or state payments do not arrive. Bono said the state had told cities and towns it would continue to operate “normally on a reimbursement basis” and that DESE intends to reimburse Springfield for the outstanding $47 million. She added that, if the funds ultimately are not reimbursed, the city would have to cover the costs and that the practical options would be to use a combination of free cash and stabilization (reserves). Bono said the city’s stabilization balance was “approximately, some a little over $71,000,000 right now,” and councilors noted that using a $47 million shortfall would reduce reserves well below the city’s target (the committee was told the city’s reserve level was about 5.7% at present and a $47 million draw would put it below the 5% goal).

Committee members and residents pressed for clarity about what the ESSER money paid for: Bono said these ESSER funds were used largely for capital projects — HVAC systems, playgrounds, practice fields, an amphitheater design and other physical improvements — not operating costs or instruction. That distinction was central to the committee’s concern: the projects are largely built or near completion (Bono said most projects were about 90% complete, with some HVAC work at about 70%), so the city cannot meaningfully stop work midstream.

Bono emphasized that the city is in daily contact with the school department and the state and that staff will continue monthly submissions and follow up with DESE. She also confirmed that if a shortfall occurs the city would be responsible for covering eligible costs that are not reimbursed and that doing so would harm the city’s reserves. Committee members asked finance staff to update the council after the April 20 submission and to notify councilors if any change in DESE’s position occurs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Springfield City Council- Finance Sub-Committee 04/07/25","oneSentenceSummary","Finance staff told the Finance Committee that the $47 million balance of school ESSER reimbursements remains unpaid but that the state (DESE) has told Springfield it intends to continue reimbursements; if federal funds do not come through the city would be responsible for the shortfall and would use reserves.","taxTitle","Springfield City, Hampden County, Massachusetts","taxId",3703,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6086107,"Finance Committee recommends approval of items 1–5, defers Chapter 90 paving vote",3955,6000,3961000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2899441-61e05a5184364d180a78ae83af51b02f&start=6&end=3961","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2899441-61e05a5184364d180a78ae83af51b02f/thumbnail_6000.jpg","/articles/6086107/Springfield-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Finance-Committee-recommends-approval-of-items-15-defers-Chapter-90-paving-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6086107-cccf8f3ce22ef4bc785a362f4ee2d8bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770636182&Signature=PCm7ObWaBwbWS4FzxChKonwFtUvmxr3mlqFM-XZTKjVhUkdMDBJ7~kcNJhPbEv8fH7Q1zAnRsjpZHcBDBjA3vMz4bjt3F3tPa-wRSEhqzMZ8oxZaurkAove4LA1EB1DCkJAkXlg4-C-J2~7fT~KU3fQ6k4PeFCUg-S~wZB~9Nr~U2m0gp4aFIX~E-SMm8I6kAiz~RmtGHdDFACHDiwC92soBw7MZDzvr47Dy5MLLCp8JSw3xdoNNNg31hZ-kctqxrS9dsX0XwuR2vDVZY~FYGC9Aj4qUkMTud2tVOCFlR-bbj5PlwDuhEO~pVoyMyqPAOQ2eLYvQCGaaF4qnvsygZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Springfield City Finance Committee Chair Councilor Allen recommended and the committee voted to forward items 1 through 5 to the full City Council on Monday, April 7, after discussing the February financial report, small prior-year police bills, a donation for a senior center event and an $8,500 National Environmental Health Association grant. Committee members declined to act on item 6 (a $5 million Chapter 90 paving authorization) and asked that it come before the full council for wider discussion.

The committee heard the February revenue and expenditure update from city finance staff, who reported year-to-date revenues at about 68% of budget and expenditures at about 67%, roughly in line with the two-thirds point in the fiscal year. Finance staff also said the city built a $1.5 million vacancy-savings assumption into the budget and is analyzing current vacancy savings and pay-as-you-go capital balances.

Committee members approved two prior-year police department invoices that had been omitted from the prior fiscal year and now require payment from current-year funds: a $10,395 invoice to Motorola and a $411.80 invoice to Springfield Tire and Auto. Finance staff said the invoices resulted from routine ordering without purchase orders and that the departments have been placed on notice to improve purchase-order controls.

The panel also voted to forward a donation acceptance for in-kind and gift-card contributions connected to a senior-center St. Patrick’s Day event and to forward an $8,500 grant from the National Environmental Health Association. Health department staff said the NEHA grant will fund an audit of the city’s environmental health program against FDA standards and that the department will manage the work.

Public and council questions at the meeting ranged from pothole repair materials and paving schedules to whether the Tiger/Big Y site entrance work would include restriping and signal timing. DPW Director Chris Cignoli outlined the city’s paving program: the city expects roughly $807,000 from this year’s Fair Share amendment that went into the Chapter 90 account and a broader Chapter 90 allocation of $5,035,000; the combined paving program slated about $5.0–5.1 million and about 6.7 miles of roadway to be bid in the coming week. Councilors asked for the full paving lists and additional district-level detail before the council votes on item 6.

At the committee’s close a motion to recommend items 1–5 passed; the committee did not advance item 6 and instead requested the full council to consider the Chapter 90 paving item so all councilors could review the street list and program details.

Votes at a glance: items 1–5 recommended to full council; item 6 deferred for full-council consideration; item 7 (informational briefing about school-related federal ESSER reimbursements) was informational and not a committee vote.","Springfield City Finance Committee voted to recommend approval of routine finance items including the February revenue/expenditure report, two police prior-year bills, a small senior-center donation, and an NEHA grant; committee members deferred a larger Chapter 90 paving authorization for the full council to review.","actionData","errors"]

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City finance staff say state intends to reimburse $47 million ESSER carryover; city would cover shortfall if federal reimbursement fails

Finance Committee recommends approval of items 1–5, defers Chapter 90 paving vote