The Municipality of Anchorage continues to make progress securing FEMA reimbursements for COVID-19 emergency response spending.
So far, more than $89 million has been accepted for reimbursement.
Since 2020, the municipality has submitted $120 million in COVID-19 related expenses to FEMA for reimbursement. COVID spending funded testing sites, vaccinations, personal protective equipment, sheltering for the homeless and other emergency costs.
Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson and right-wing tabloids like Must Read Alaska have used FEMA reimbursement as a straw man for years. They’ve claimed the Anchorage Assembly’s actions have put reimbursement at risk.
The administration labeled FEMA funds not yet applied for as “potential taxpayer exposure” in documents. Must Read irresponsibly speculated with headlines like “FEMA Reimbursement of $80 million to Muni Seems Unlikely” and “Anchorage Taxpayers Likely on the Hook for $56 Million to House Mainly Drug and Alcohol Abusers in Sullivan Arena.”
In a September Budget meeting, municipal projects director Alden Thern cautioned that public comments by the administration or Assembly could ultimately affect whether the municipality would be reimbursed.
In reality, FEMA reimbursement was never in real jeopardy.
Now, only a little over $30 million is still in the process of reimbursement and $2.7 million has yet to be submitted. To date, only $67,000, or 0.5%, has been marked as non-reimbursable.
