The city of Wichita is applying for a grant from the Department of Justice that will help with COVID-19-related expenses.
The Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program Solicitation Grant is worth $1.25 million. Wichita Police plans to purchase personal protection equipment, hand sanitizer and other items.
Wanda Gibbons with WPD says the funds will also help any member of the force that gets sick from the virus. She explains another use: "The Wichita Police Department will also use a portion of the funds to manage an emergency manager position for the pandemic's response," she said.
A portion of the funding would also help the Wichita Fire Department purchase cloud-based software to improve equipment inventory.
The city also got their financial report for the first quarter of 2020, with revenues exceeding expenditures, creating a positive net change of $33.9 million. However, the city expects shortfalls the rest of the year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The city's golf fund continues to face significant challenges with a deficit of over $300 thousand.
