American Rescue Plan

 

 

​

 

American Rescue Plan Act

​

Under the United States American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021, York County is issued $40,331,830 in recovery funds to replace lost revenues and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The payment is split into two tranches, with the first payment of $20,165,915 arriving in June 2021 and the second payment of an equal amount scheduled to arrive no sooner than June 2022.

​

ARPA funds must be obligated no later than December 31, 2024. Funds must be spent no later than December 31, 2026.

​

Further guidance on the use of ARPA funds is in the links below; but broadly, these funds can be spent in the following categories:

• Supporting the public health response

• Addressing negative economic impacts 

• Replacing public sector revenue loss 

• Premium pay for essential workers 

• Water, sewer, broadband infrastructure

​

Funds can generally not be used for:

• Reducing taxes

• Depositing extraordinary funds into a pension account

• Certain non-federal matches

• Debt Service

• Legal Settlements

• Rainy Day Funds

• Infrastructure outside of water/sewer/broadband, or revenue loss to infrastructure projects

• General economic development or workforce development unless related to the pandemic Guidance Documents

​

The following are resources offering guidance for how counties can spend ARPA funds.

• The Interim Final Rules from Department of Treasury

• Guidance from National Association of Counties on allowable uses

 

 

County Process

 

The following is York County's process for determining use of ARPA funds:

 

1. Identify County needs – June/July 2021

• York County staff will perform an audit of losses to York County 

• County staff will identify further response measures necessary to the COVID-19 pandemic

• York County will perform an internal needs assessment

• Conducted Public Hearings on June 16th and June 23rd to solicit comment from interested stakeholders

​

2. Review and Categorize Requests in July/August/early September 2021

• Close comments/requests July 23, 2021

• Commissioners’ workshop on August 4th at 3:00 p.m. to discuss requests

• Organize requests into qualified categories

• Meetings with industry experts and service providers

• Receive ongoing comments through Commissioners’ meetings

• Meetings with industry experts, service providers, State and local leadership, if needed

 

Public Comment

​

Interested parties and residents can also attend any Commissioners’ meeting and offer commentsduring the “Public Comments” period.