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Court reallocates ARPA savings, creates readiness coordination manager role to keep humanitarian response capacity
Summary
Commissioners moved $2.42 million of ARPA‑generated general funds into contingency and approved repurposing up to $280,711.93 to fund a two‑year readiness coordination manager position under the Office of New Americans to maintain emergency and humanitarian response capacity as FEMA grant support ends.
The El Paso County Commissioners Court approved transfers of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)‑sourced general funds into a contingency account and authorized reallocation of funds to cover prior board‑approved ARPA projects. The court also approved repurposing up to $280,711.93 from ARPA‑funded contingencies to create a Readiness Coordination Manager (PS‑10 step 2) position, with operating expenses, from Feb. 1, 2025 through Sept. 30, 2026.
Budget and Finance analyst Jessica Garza said the transfers consolidate ARPA savings into a contingency account for projects already approved by the court and planned commitments. Irene (Office of New Americans) explained the new readiness position would sustain a county‑led coordination and clearinghouse role for humanitarian responses, cooling/warming centers and NGO coordination as FEMA‑funded positions expire. She told the court the county had been the government lead for migrant humanitarian response in recent surges and needs a durable coordinator to mobilize partners and provide reliable public information.
Commissioners discussed alternatives and asked for more detail on operational uses; staff confirmed the request includes a modest operational budget for communications, hotline and incident support. The court approved the transfer and the position on a motion by Commissioner Stout, seconded by Commissioner Butler.
