JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<input tabIndex="0" title="Please enter transaction amount." id="TR_Amount" style="width: 425px;" maxLength="10" value="" />
<input name="TR_Amount" type="hidden" value="" />
<BR />
<input tabIndex="0" title="" class="InfoColor" id="check_amt" style="width: 141px;" maxLength="30" readOnly="" value="" />
<input name="check_amt" type="hidden" value="10.00" />
<BR />
<DIV>
    <LABEL title="" class=DefaultBold>Reserve Amount:
        <LABEL tabIndex=-1 title="" class=AttentionColor id="lblAmt">$9.99</LABEL>
    </LABEL>
</DIV>
<button onclick="amtGreatRes();">Click me</button>

JavaScript

function amtGreatRes() {
    var ChkAmount = parseFloat($('input[name="check_amt"]').val()); // Works
    var ReserveAmt = parseFloat($('#lblAmt').text().replace('$', '')); // My confusion
    //alert(ReserveAmt);
    if (ChkAmount > ReserveAmt) {
        alert('The payment amount entered exceeds the reserve amount for this transaction. Please correct payment amount.');
    } else {
        alert('You did it!');
    }
}