Council moves modest ARPA funds between projects; auditor to produce status report

The Monroe County Council approved an ARPA appropriation of $27,498.90 and a corresponding deappropriation later in the meeting to move funds from a project that will not use its full allocation into an active ARPA-eligible project. Auditor Bree Gregory explained that ARPA rules require that contract obligations be in place by the 2024 deadline but allow reallocation among currently open projects if the scope does not change. Gregory told the council she expects additional ARPA-related reappropriations and asked the council to consider a broader review of open ARPA projects to avoid leaving funds unused before the federal deadline for allowable uses. Councilors asked the auditor to prepare a status package showing which ARPA projects remain open, which have unspent balances, and where reallocated funds could be applied. Gregory agreed and said the auditor’s office will prepare the report and circulate it to council before the end of the year. Why it matters: ARPA funds are a finite federal resource; reprogramming unused balances into active projects preserves funding for local needs and avoids losing the resource to expiration or ineligible use. Next steps: auditor to compile and share an ARPA status report on open projects, balances, and reallocation opportunities; staff will identify candidate projects that could absorb reappropriated funds without scope change.