Miami Lakes is among 34 municipalities that have asked Miami-Dade County to share federal aid to pay unexpected expenses related to the coronavirus pandemic.
The town submitted a $6.4 million list of expenses, forecasted costs and proposed projects on Aug. 3 and updated it on Aug. 11.
The town spent $144,977 from March 1 – June 30 for police overtime to enforce government orders and staff a testing site and ongoing food distribution events.
It expects to spend the same amount for those costs during the remaining six months of 2020.
About $187, 636 was spent for protective equipment for staff; supplies to deep clean town hall, public spaces, bus shelters and parks; installation of protective barriers and paid sick, family and medical leave for public employees.
Those costs will also recur during the year.
Items on the town’s wish list include:
-- $2.3 million for 20,000 FDA-approved, COVID-19 home test kits. The nasal swab or saliva kits -- as well as the items listed below -- would be purchased only if the county commits to funding these projects, spokeswoman
Clarisell De Cardenas said.
Under the draft plan, a minimum of one test each would go to about 10,189 households and the rest would be distributed to populations in need, De Cardenas said.
A vendor and type of test had not yet been chosen, she said.
--$1,050,000 for a 12-week assessment, enrichment and tutoring program for Miami Lakes parents and 1,750 students.
Students would get a $600 voucher for local tutoring businesses to help them make up deficiencies from distance learning.
--$2.3 million for grants to small businesses for economic relief and to reimburse the costs of halting business during government-ordered closures.
--$36,000 for another Freebee vehicle to take patients to testing sites or deliver food.
--$137,000 for touchless hand sanitizer dispensers and refills in town parks (150 locations).
--$110,000 for 11 temperature screening cameras at town facilities.
--$43,000 for computers and equipment; remote meeting licenses and software and other technology.
—Linda Trischitta