is/are spent?

[birgit33]

"$20 million is/are spent on advertising." Does it have to be are because of "dollars"?

 

[J&K Tutoring]

Yes.

 

[5jj]

"$20 million is/are spent on advertising." Does it have to be are because of "dollars"?

I don't agree with J&K Tutoring. We can think of $20 million as an amount, and use the singular 'is'. Similarly:

Twenty miles isn't far to walk in a day.