PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island has spent only a small portion of the $1.25 billion it received in federal aid to fight the coronavirus, but could spend another $700 million by the end of the year, officials with Gov. Gina Raimondo’s administration told a legislative committee.
Department of Administration Director Brett Smiley told the legislature’s Emergency Spending Task Force on Tuesday that anywhere from $350 million to $600 million may be left over.
Some lawmakers said that money should be used to help communities of color and minority-owned businesses that were disproportionately affected by the virus. Others said more should be done to protect the health of staff and residents of the state’s nursing homes, also hit hard by the virus.
The state is also facing an estimated $800 million budget deficit because of the pandemic, and the federal aid could be used to address that.
“I think now it’s important that, as we mentioned at the end, that we start to look at how those funds, within the regulations of the federal government, can be used to assist us in addressing this incredible budget challenge that we have now in the state,” task force co-chair Democratic Sen. William Conley of East Providence said.
