DeKalb County is expected to get approximately $3.9 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, and local leaders attended a meeting last week to see how they are allowed to spend the money. County commissioners, department heads, and even some local mayors were on hand for the workshop, asking questions as to what they could, and could not, use the money for.
Mark Farley, Executive Director of the Upper Cumberland Development District and Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency addressed the workshop to answer questions. The ARP funds are supposed to help offset losses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to ARP guidelines, the county is allowed to draw half the money this year for projects or programs that began after March 3, 2021, when the ARP Act became law. The school district and municipalities are getting their own ARP funding.
“The money has to be obligated by December 31, 2024 and completely expended by the end of 2026,” Farley said. “There’s really three or four legal ways the money can be spent, but those give us a lot of flexibility. Anything that has been affected by COVID-19, the economic affects or the safety affects, funds can be spent on. Certainly building projects that expand distancing can be considered. Anything health related can be covered.”
“They can also reward employees who have worked throughout this time when there was a lot of uncertainty,” Farley continued. “They can be rewarded for their due diligence in coming to work. Also, sewer and water projects, and broadband, that really would be beneficial to DeKalb County and the cities for 30 to 40 years into the future.
Farley said that schools are getting their own pot of money, and they have their own set of strings attached to it, but projects could be considered by the county that cover mental health issues, senior citizens issues, and projects that could benefit non-profit groups.
When ask if the ARP funds could be spent on issue such as a jail addition, Farley said it would depend on certain issues. “Jails are a little tricky. You have to document what has happened with COVID. If they have had a wing shut down at the jail and that has caused massive overcrowding in part of it, obviously that is something that should be looked at. If they are just increasing their capacity because crime is up that would not apply.”
Farley urged commissioners to come up with a list of possible project in phases. Should an issue arise where a project could not be completed within the ARP’s allotted time period, another project could quickly replace it. Projects have to be obligated and under contract by December 31, 2024, and the money has to completely expended by the end of 2026. Any current project that is underway, after March 3, 2021, may also be eligible for ARP funds. Projects can be in partnership with local municipalities and utilities, but all funds must be spent within the confines of the county.
“This is a unique opportunity to make a huge impact on the future of DeKalb County,” Farley said. “How you spend this money, if you are strategic about it, I think most of our communities will be able to put in place two or three different projects that will be talked about 30, 40, 50 years down the road. That is what they need to be thinking about. How do we impact future generations.”
Farley explained that while there are conditions as to how the money can be spent, and the final set of priorities has yet to be set, most early restrictions have been loosened as the rules have evolved. “In every step that they have released guidance they have loosened the restrictions. We are encouraged thinking that when that final rule comes there are some things today that we don’t think qualify that may be eligible at that point and time. We just don’t know what that is and to what degree,” said Farley.
