Due to the federal government Lawrence County is still awaiting funding from the federal Emergency Management Performance Grant, which helps pay emergency management salaries and benefits.
County Auditor Brenda McGruder said the county transferred about $115,000 from its general fund to cover the shortfall while awaiting reimbursement. She said county officials have recently been notified that the funds have been approved and should be distributed by the state auditor, though no timeline or final amount has been provided.
The grant is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which was affected by the 43‑day shutdown last year. Lawrence County has relied on the grant for more than two decades, submitting quarterly reports to qualify for reimbursements that partially cover staff costs.
While the county received all four quarterly payments for 2024 late last year, it has not received any payments for 2025. McGruder said the transfer created no financial hardship and expects funding for 2026 to arrive on time.
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