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Athens-Clarke County outlines ARPA spending priorities, transparency and sustainability plans
Summary
Mayor Kelly Gertz described Athens-Clarke County's priorities for American Rescue Plan Act funding—affordable housing and youth services as the largest categories—explained public reporting tools and warned that the county must spend remaining funds by the end of 2026 while building local capacity to sustain programs.
Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Gertz said the county prioritized affordable housing and youth services when allocating American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and is using public meetings and an online portal to keep residents informed.
Gertz, in an interview on the ARPA highlight series, said Athens-Clarke County received about $58 million in ARPA funds and that “the biggest category of expenditure was around affordable housing, and the second largest category was around youth services.”
The mayor said the county places a premium on public deliberation and online transparency. “If you go to accgov.com/arpa, you can see the funds that we've spent,” Gertz said, referring to the ACCGov ARPA reporting portal where project-by-project expenditures and remaining balances are posted.
Why it matters: ARPA dollars are one-time federal funds with legal and timing limits. Gertz emphasized the need to turn short-term federal investments into sustainable programs and local capacity: “we have to expend all these funds by the end of calendar year 2026,” he said, adding that community centers and youth programs opened with ARPA will require new revenue or partnerships to continue beyond that deadline.
Most important facts: According to Gertz, after housing and youth services the county also allocated funds to medical activities and workforce needs and reserved smaller amounts for internal government needs. He said planning decisions occurred in public policy settings — planning retreats, agenda-setting meetings and voting meetings — and that some adjustments were made between initial plans and final votes.
Gertz described practical challenges in delivering large projects, noting local capacity constraints in the construction sector: “We we know there are a small handful of people who actually have the ability to pour concrete and swing a hammer and and make houses, come to be for people.” He said that reality shaped how the county selected partners and timed projects.
On sustaining services, Gertz discussed revenue options and the role of local leadership in advocacy. He cited a state tool he calls the flexible local option sales tax as one potential source of revenue and urged creative public-private-nonprofit partnerships to keep community centers and youth programming open after ARPA spending ends.
The mayor also credited ARPA and related funds with stabilizing dozens of small businesses through grants and loans, noting those supports were meaningful to operators of home-based daycares, repair services and other small enterprises.
Context and next steps: Gertz said officials have roughly 18 months from the interview date to obligate the funds and are evaluating how to transition programs into sustainable operations. He invited residents to attend public meetings, contact the mayor's office and consult the county's ARPA portal for project details.
Ending: The mayor framed ARPA investments as one tool among many for long-term community goals, including higher graduation rates and reduced violence; he said continued community engagement and new revenue strategies will determine whether short-term gains become lasting services.
