American Recovery Plan Act

At a worksession in March of 2022 the Mayor and City Council discussed the City’s $6.6 million American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) allocation. After discussion, the Councilmembers prioritized potential funding categories generally in this order:

  1. Community Contributions
  2. Social and Environmental Programs
  3. Quality of Life Amenities
  4. Infrastructure
  5. Roadway and Mobility Improvements
  6. City Facilities / City Services

In April of 2022, the Mayor and City Council held their first worksession at City Hall to hear suggestions, project ideas, and receive public input regarding ARPA projects.

How can I share my ideas about ARPA?

The public input period has closed. No other public input sessions have been scheduled at this time. More information will be added to this page as it becomes available.

  • The Mayor and City Council first heard ideas related to "Community Contributions" and "Social and Environmental Programs" on Tuesday, April 19 and May 3, respectively. 
  • The Mayor and City Council heard ideas related to "Quality of Life Amenities" and "Infrastructure" on Tuesday, May 17, at 6 PM at City Hall.
  • The Mayor and City Council heard ideas related to "Roadway and Mobility Improvements" and "City Facilities / City Services" on Tuesday, May 31, at 6 PM at City Hall.

What types of projects are being considered for ARPA funding?

Councilmembers prioritized potential funding categories generally in this order: (1) Community Contributions, (2) Social and Environmental Programs, (3) Quality of Life Amenities, (4) Infrastructure, (5) Roadway and Mobility Improvements, and (6) City Facilities / City Services. You can view a list of all the ideas here. 

What is ARPA?

Signed into law on March 11, 2021, The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) provides $350 billion in additional funding for state and local governments. The state funding portion is approximately $195 billion with $25.5 billion distributed equally among the 50 states and the District of Columbia and the remaining amount distributed according to a formula based on unemployment. The local funding portion is approximately $130 billion, equally divided between cities and counties. Localities will receive the funds in two tranches–the first after the U.S. Treasury certifies the proceeds to each jurisdiction and the second one year later.

What can be funded with ARPA?

Eligible uses of these funds include:

  • Revenue replacement for the provision of government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, relative to revenues collected in the most recent fiscal year prior to the emergency,
  • COVID-19 expenditures or negative economic impacts of COVID-19, including assistance to small businesses, households, and hard-hit industries, and economic recovery,
  • Premium pay for essential workers,
  • Investments in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure.

Restrictions on the uses of these funds include:

  • Funds allocated to states cannot be used to directly or indirectly to offset tax reductions or delay a tax or tax increase;
  • Funds cannot be deposited into any pension fund.

Click here to view the presentation from the March 29 Council Worksession.