The county commissioners at their Wednesday meeting approved almost $3.9 million in relief funds for 24 municipalities seeking reimbursement for expenses incurred due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Of the $17 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding received by the county, $8 million is allotted for municipalities with eligible expenses.

Leslie Osche, commissioners chairwoman, said most of the reimbursements in the current round of allocations are for law enforcement and related services.

Mark Gordon, the county's chief of economic development and planning, said the county came up with an allocation amount for each municipality based on a formula using the township or borough's population.

The municipalities could apply for a reimbursement up to that amount.

The funds had to reimburse eligible expenses, such as extra law enforcement costs, personal protective equipment, sanitizer and other pandemic-related costs, Gordon said.

Some municipalities, such as Cranberry Township and Zelienople, requested a reimbursement that equaled their allocation.

Cranberry was allocated and received more than $1.3 million and Zelienople $158,000.

Other municipalities did not have many eligible expenses.

Muddy Creek Township, which was allocated $97,533 according to the formula, requested and received just $223 in reimbursement funds.

Cherry Township was allocated $40,000, but requested $1,316, which it received.

Gordon explained that more highly populated municipalities or those with police departments had more eligible expenses than smaller municipalities or those that have state police coverage.

He said the county has been in contact with the remaining 28 municipalities in the county to ensure they have the opportunity to review the expenses that are eligible for reimbursement.

In the next round of funding, all municipalities with additional expenses can apply for funds.

Gordon said the entire $8 million will eventually be used by the municipalities in the county in multiple rounds of applications.

Other reimbursements were:

Brady Township, $2,117

Butler Township, $715,249

Butler, $565,248

Clay Township, $4,391

Clinton Township, $40,308

Evans City, $79,071

Franklin Township, $2,460

Harmony, $32,221

Harrisville, $12,296

Jackson Township, $165,003

Lancaster Township, $109,602

Marion Township, $2,446

Mars, $48,941

Middlesex Township, $192,406

Penn Township, $97,738

Saxonburg, $65,650

Seven Fields, $119,679

Slippery Rock, $151,671

Slippery Rock Township, $2,192

Valencia, $8,533.