Millions in state funding for Pajaro’s flood recovery is nearly spent as deadline approaches.

The clock is ticking for the County of Monterey to distribute $20 million in state funds for the benefit of Pajaro. The funds come from Assembly Bill 102, secured by Pajaro’s state representatives to help its residents recover from the 2023 flood. That money needs to be spent by the end of December.

Near the end of 2023, the County Board of Supervisors, with public input, agreed on how to divvy the money, with $10 million going toward direct aid to residents and businesses, and the rest being used for other means such as infrastructure projects, including for the renovation of the 1850s-era Porter Vallejo Mansion.

In total, a little over $4 million of the state funds still needs to be spent by the end of the year.

The third and final phase of direct financial assistance to residents launched in October. Across the first two phases, about $5.3 million has been spent, including nearly $500,000 in administrative costs.

For businesses affected by the funding, $4.1 million has been spent on repairs and beautification projects, minus $290,841 for administrative costs.

A little more than $1.5 million has also been spent on street upgrades throughout Pajaro, including streetlights, radar speed signs and curb ramps.

Emergency Management Director Kelsey Scanlon told the supervisors on Tuesday, Oct. 21 that the money is well on its way to being spent by the deadline, and for some projects, will be fully expended by November.

“This really is an example of a graceful and elegant balance of meeting the acute needs of the community but also investing long-term in the overall resilience of the community of Pajaro,” she said.