Schuylkill County returned $398,192.33 to the state because it could not spend it all.

The block grant funds, $112,370.76 for the caregiver program and $285,821.57 from federal CARES funds, are going back on behalf of Senior Services.

These grants were for the 2020-21 fiscal year.

“It will not be held against the county,” county Administrator Gary Bender said.

Clerk of Courts Maria Casey said the money listed looks like it is part of the CARES funds the county received from the federal government.

“Maybe you could be a little bit more precise on the agenda because it looks like it’s the CARES Act,” Casey said.

The county received $12,675,970 in CARES money.

Bender said the funds are not related to the $12 million.

“These are departmental funds that come through the block grant,” he said.

Bender said, “They did a bang-up job of spending money, believe me.”

He said the problem is one statewide of not being able to spend all the funds.

Money has to be spent according to grant guidelines.

“All departments really struggled this year. They did their best to help those in need. It’s just that this was an unusual year,” Bender said.