Local officials happy with 90 percent reimbursement promise

News Herald (Panama City, FL)

May 10-- May 10--BAY COUNTY -- Local officials were elated to hear President Donald Trump announce the federal government will reimburse municipalities and school districts 90% for Hurricane Michael recovery costs.

Trump made the announcement Wednesday while in Bay County for a campaign rally. The move means a 90/10 split, with the municipality or school district picking up 5% and the state picking up the remaining 5%.

Debris removal and recovery costs have been close to or have exceeded annual budgets for many towns and districts. The 90/10 split will mean reduced costs for the small communities still reeling from heavy damage seven months later.

"We've been wanting some help for over 200 days. To be honest with you, I don't understand what took so long," Mexico Beach Mayor Al Cathey said. "But that's not the issue. We got it and we deserve it."

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach and Tyndall Air Force Base in October 2018, with the beachfront town and military installation sustaining severe damage.

Cathey said he is pleased Trump found a way to get a 90/10 split and the increased margin will help Bay County. Currently the split is 75/25, with municipalities and states each picking up 12.5%.

Lynn Haven Mayor Margo Anderson said she is "very grateful" to Trump for making a second visit to Bay County since the hurricane. Trump visited Lynn Haven shortly after the hurricane made landfall.

"His approval of the 90/10 FEMA reimbursement will mean nothing short of a new day for our municipalities and for the rural unincorporated areas," Anderson said. "I have been an advocate for the upgrading of the hurricane to a Category 5 since the first day. I knew that once that happened, the president would have firm ground to stand on as he raised the FEMA reimbursement percentage, and I never doubted that he would."

In April when Hurricane Michael was officially upgraded to a Category 5, state and local officials said the increased rating and resulting attention from it could help with more reimbursement.

Springfield Mayor Ralph Hammond called a 90% reimbursement a "fantastic idea."

"I'll believe it a lot better when I see it in writing," Hammond said. "I think it's fantastic for our community."

Parker Mayor Rich Musgrave said the announcement was "certainly welcome news for all the communities that have large debris pickup costs."

"The savings to the City of Parker will be almost $500,000. We appreciate the president's action, and the role our governor played in obtaining this commitment," Musgrave said. "We'll continue to lobby for additional funding to address more of the storm-related damages."

County Commission Chairman Philip "Griff" Griffitts said the news means huge savings for taxpayers in the area.

Panama City Mayor Greg Brudnicki called the announcement a "really big deal" for the county and municipalities, and was one of two things he was hoping to hear from Trump. The other was a commitment to rebuilding Tyndall because it is a huge part of the local economy.

"I'm elated," Brudnicki said. "I'm sure all my cohorts in the county and sister cities are elated."

Callaway Mayor Pamn Henderson said it was what people were hoping for.

"Because of the massive damage caused by Hurricane Michael, the recovery costs are enormous," Henderson said. "The fact that our cities and the county will be responsible for 5% of the costs instead of 12.5% is a great help to our citizens."

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