JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – Campbell County Commissioners will vote on a resolution Tuesday night, in the regular monthly meeting via Zoom, regarding Coronavirus stimulus aid from the federal government. The resolution states the county is “opposed” to federal and local stimulus aid that primarily benefits urban America and is asking for “fairness” in future aid. 

The resolution is being sponsored by Commissioner Zach Marlow, who said he hopes it will draw attention to the “unfair distribution of federal funds to mostly urban cities and not rural America.”

Marlow used Nashville statistics to show the “unfairness” of the distribution of federal funds. Nashville and other metros across the nation with populations over 500,000 received direct stimulus allocations. These averaged to around $142.85 per resident for metropolitan governments to use. According to Marlow, if the government had given the same amount per resident in Campbell County then it would have been around $5.7 million that could have been very beneficial to Campbell County. 

The resolution also points out that as far as virus infections and death rate, Campbell County has high numbers, even in comparison to urban areas. 

Marlow said he felt the CARES Act stimulus “benefited urban America but left rural America behind.” “We could have really used those funds. A lot of my constituents lack broadband and our small businesses could have used the help too,” Marlow said.

If the resolution is passed, Commissioners said they intend to send copies to state senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty as well as congressman Chuck Fleischmann and congressman Tim Burchett.

Marlow said he wants the rural areas to be included in federal aid and hopes something “fair” comes out of the resolution. It’s also being sent to legislators in Nashville. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 01/19/2021-6AM)

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