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Committee recommends health department renovation funding, approves ARPA fallback if CARES Act funds do not materialize
Summary
The Budget and Finance Committee on May 19 recommended funding health department renovations and local parks projects, approving a motion that uses ARPA funds as a fallback if federal CARES Act or other anticipated funding does not arrive.
On May 19 the Budget and Finance Committee considered capital-project funding for the local health department renovation and related parks work and voted to recommend approval with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds as the fallback source if previously expected CARES Act or other funds do not arrive.
Committee members said the project is already under construction and acknowledged uncertainty about an anticipated federal/state funding source. The mayor told the committee that architects and county representatives were working with state officials and that “they were still hoping the governor's gonna pull that money from a rainy day fund,” and that the project team had considered paring down work to reduce the county’s share.
Committee materials listed the health-department renovation as part of Capital Projects; a figure of $745,000 appeared in committee discussion as the project budget and committee members referenced a funding gap of roughly $250,000 if previously expected funds are not provided. Members discussed potential sources: Capital Projects fund 171, ARPA (identified as accounts 01/27 or 01/28 in packet discussion), or a fund-balance draw.
An initial motion to approve the capital-project item specifically from fund 171 failed for lack of a second. A later motion by Ms. Overman to recommend approval with the condition that ARPA funds be used if needed passed with a favorable vote. Committee members noted ARPA balance remaining “a little over $500,000” in committee discussion, which would partially cover the shortfall if tapped.
The committee recorded that staff will document the recommendation and that committee members expected additional outreach with state legislators and officials to pursue other funding avenues. The committee also noted the CARES Act funding referenced in materials is not guaranteed and that the county had already begun the project before final funding clarity was reached.
Staff and the project architect were asked to continue negotiations to reduce the project scope if necessary and to return with any updated funding plans during the budget process.
