Substitute
Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Chief Executive Office
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): All
Appropriation of American Rescue Plan Act Funding to Eligible Programs and Operating Expenses
Body
Information Contact: Zachary L. Williams, COO/Executive Assistant
Phone Number: 404-371-2426
PURPOSE:
To appropriate American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act funding to eligible programs and operating expenses.
NEED/IMPACT:
The Federal Government allocated $147,484,541 in American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act funding to DeKalb County to be distributed in two tranches in 2021 and 2022.
The ARP Act provides that payments from the Fund may only be used to cover costs incurred beginning on March 3, 2021 to:
• Support public health expenditures, by funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral healthcare, and certain public health and safety staff;
• Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, including economic harms to workers, households, small businesses, impacted industries, and the public sector;
• Replace lost public sector revenue, using this funding to provide government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue experienced due to the pandemic;
• Provide premium pay for essential workers, offering additional support to those who have borne and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical infrastructure sectors; and,
• Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, making necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, support vital wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and to expand access to broadband internet.
On July 13, 2021, the Board of Commissioners appropriated $6.2 million from ARP to fund retention bonuses for eligible public safety employees and $1 million to the Community Service Board for clinical resources addressing pandemic related issues, such as additional mental health nurses for Public Safety Personnel support.
This action appropriates ARP Act funding to eligible programs and operating expenses.
FISCAL IMPACT:
DeKalb County has received $73,742,270.50 in the first tranche of ARP Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. This agenda item appropriates $53,984,704 to eligible programs and operating expenses and reserves the remaining $12,557,566 for appropriation.
No impact on the County.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
To approve appropriation of American Rescue Plan funding to eligible programs and operating expenses and authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute all necessary documents.