Tallahassee Sun

On August 21, Congressman Neal Dunn (Florida-02) sent a letter to Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen and Director of Remediation, Office of Recovery Programs Troyling R. Harris, urgently requesting that the Department of Treasury reverse a final ruling requiring Gulf County, FL, to return $360,352.60 in Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act (RESTORE Act) funds.

The Treasury's RESTORE Gulf County Compliance Review Follow-up Report, dated August 2, 2024, deemed some funds used unallowable. However, Congressman Dunn emphasized that this ruling contradicts previous pre-authorizations from the Department of Treasury to Gulf County regarding their use of funds.

"Gulf County has been transparent and compliant with Treasury regulations since the inception of the RESTORE Act," said Congressman Dunn. "The Department of Treasury previously confirmed multiple times that Gulf County was in compliance with the RESTORE Act's terms and conditions. Requiring the return of these funds after years of successful compliance and cooperation is unjust and will have severe economic repercussions on this small, rural, and financially constrained county."

Congressman Dunn's letter highlights that Gulf County has adhered to federal regulations and obtained the necessary approvals from the Department of Treasury. The Congressman also noted the significant economic challenges faced by Gulf County, which were exacerbated by the impacts of Hurricane Michael.

"I urge the Department of Treasury to reconsider this decision and recognize the economic harm that will occur if these funds are clawed back from Gulf County," Dunn added. "The county has made substantial progress in its recovery and compliance efforts, and this ruling jeopardizes that progress."

The letter requests a response from the Treasury by August 28, 2024, and expresses a willingness to work collaboratively to resolve this issue.

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