The Starke County Council members gathered quite a bit of information about American Rescue Plan funding Monday night from Todd Samuelson, a partner with accounting and consulting firm Baker Tilly.
Starke County is expected to receive $4.46 million from the federal government in the American Rescue Plan which can be used to respond to a public health emergency; recover revenue losses; investments in water, sewer and broadband; and the transfer of funds to not-for-profit or special purpose unit of state or local government.
The county will receive the funds in two draws. One draw is in May of this year and the other is estimated to be drawn in May of 2022. All funds should be spent by December 31, 2024, or it is expected to be returned to the U.S. Department of Treasury.
Broadband was something that the council was interested in pursuing, along with housing, but Samuelson said he would get more information to the government leaders on whether or not housing is an allowable expense with the plan. Small business help and help for residents were topics discussed, but the main focus was lost revenue and the potential for more lost revenue in 2022. Samuelson said the full impact of the pandemic may hit in 2022 so the council and commissioners could plan for future revenue losses in a plan to be assembled in the next few months.
Additionally, the loss in highway funds, jail revenue, EMS revenue, and income and property taxes were initial concerns, but a deeper look into revenue comparisons from 2019 to 2020 and 2021 will show a bigger picture of the losses.
There could be a subcommittee of members to make recommendations for approval to the commissioners and council on how to spend the money, but no decisions have been made.
