JOHNSTON, Iowa - Iowa has nearly $50 million in unspent COVID-19 relief money from the federal government.
Governor Kim Reynolds says she plans to use the money as required by the end of the month, but is hoping Congress passes a stimulus package today or tomorrow that'll extend that deadline.
The unspent money includes $21 million being returned after the Treasury Department said the state misused it on a software program.
Governor Reynolds originally allocated the $21 million for a computer program for state government, but the U.S Treasury inspector general determined it was not an allowable expense for pandemic relief funding provided by Congress in the CARES Act.
Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand had called out the expenditure as a misuse of the federal funding.
Also included in the unspent COVID-19 relief money is $15 million from a broadband project that could not be completed. The leftover money is from $1.2 Billion the state was given by Congress for COVD-19 relief.