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City manager: Jackson County’s ARPA process leaves Independence unclear on allocations
Summary
City Manager Zach Walker told the Independence Finance Committee that Jackson County has not settled on how it will allocate about $71 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds and that the county reimbursed itself to retain the money for future decisions.
Zach Walker, Independence city manager, told the Finance Committee that Jackson County has not yet decided how it will award roughly $71 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to local governments or partner organizations.
Walker said the county initially struggled to set a process for allocating the money, including disagreements between a county audit-and-finance committee and the county executive. "The county executive vetoed those decisions on the basis that ... the process used by that committee was not in keeping with federal law and guidelines," Walker said. He added the county ultimately reimbursed itself for prior eligible COVID-related costs, which freed the $71 million in the county general fund for future allocation but left the timing and criteria unclear.
The committee’s chair, Mike Blach, asked whether the county could decide not to award any of the funds to partner organizations; Walker said that outcome is possible. Walker also noted the county’s $71 million balance could grow through investment income while it remains unused.
Walker described a specific local dispute over a county purchase and renovation of a downtown building at 1300 Washington Street. He said the county executive supported renovation spending while a narrow majority of county legislators favored reallocating funds or selling the building, producing a recurring veto situation under the county charter. "Traditionally, we’ve seen a 5–4 split," Walker said, and the executive’s veto power has blocked allocations lacking a capital-maintenance component.
The committee did not take formal action on the ARPA topic. Walker recommended the city monitor county meetings for any announced allocation process and said city staff have no clarity on what projects, if any, will be eligible or how much the county might award to Independence.
Ending: The committee thanked Walker for the update and reserved further questions. Committee members asked staff to notify council colleagues and constituent organizations that county allocations remain uncertain.
