Here Is Bernards Township's Share Of The COVID Relief Money

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — The American Rescue Plan will send more than $10 billion to the state and local governments within New Jersey. The $1.9 trillion COVID relief package contains $360 billion in state and local aid to help keep essential workers on the job, assist struggling families and small businesses, and make critical investments in infrastructure.

The state government will receive approximately $6.434 billion plus another $189 million to expand broadband internet across the state. An additional $1.823 billion will be split among the 21 county governments and $1.741 billion divided among all 565 cities and municipalities.

"Our state and local governments have been on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19," said Senator Bob Menendez. "They have been bleeding resources for over a year while costs have soared and revenues have plummeted. As a result, they have borne the brunt of the economic pain and desperately need help."

The Somerset County government will receive $96,473,286, while the county's municipalities will split $32,683,286.72. Of the latter figure, Bernards Township's portion will total $2,656,002.55.

The municipal funds can pay COVID-related expenses; cover lost revenues due to the pandemic to maintain critical services and avoid layoffs of essential workers; provide additional assistance to residents and small businesses; and invest in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.

Individual Stimulus Funds

Now about that $1,400. Checks of up to $1,400 will go to individuals making $80,000 or less, single parents earning up to $120,000 and couples with household income of less than $160,000.

According to CNET, checks sent to direct deposit accounts could start going out the week of March 17. Paper checks could start being mailed the following week.

United Way of Northern New Jersey, a Morristown-based nonprofit, can help area residents from low- to moderate-income household claim their coronavirus stimulus payments.

United Way and its partners created a secure online portal, accessible at https://uwnnj.org/freetaxprep, to ensure these households could receive free, IRS-certified tax preparation and filing services for the 2020 filing season. This year, the service includes assistance in claiming eligibility for coronavirus-related stimulus checks.

Those who were eligible for but did not receive their federally approved stimulus checks approved last year can claim them on their 2020 return through the Internal Revenue Service's Recovery Rebate Credit.

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