Oklahoma County staff reports ARPA subrecipient spending lag, highlights nonprofit projects aiding housing, youth and veterans

Oklahoma County staff gave the Board an update on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) subrecipient spending and monitoring on Oct. 13, saying most county projects are complete but many subrecipient programs are under the 50% spending threshold as federal closeout deadlines approach.

The staff presenter said, “We are only as of today, 444 days from 12/31/2026,” and urged more aggressive monitoring, desk reviews and site visits to ensure subrecipients meet spending timelines or request modifications before reallocation becomes necessary.

The nut graf: County staff said the county has 98 ARPA projects recorded as 100% complete on paper, with 28 county projects and 70 subrecipient projects in that count; staff cautioned the 100% figure overstates actual completions because subrecipients submit later and staff must reconcile reports. Staff estimated roughly 30 subrecipients are actually under 50% expenditure and about eight subrecipients show 0% spending.

Staff walked the Board through examples of funded subrecipient projects. Habitat for Humanity received ARPA funds to support down-payment assistance for a Corner Street housing community; staff said the project had helped three families to date and that County ARPA dollars could support “15 to 20 families” for down-payment help. Luther Volunteer Fire Department used funds to buy a fire engine, a tanker that increases on-site water capacity to about 3,000 gallons (from roughly 750), and self-contained breathing apparatuses for volunteer firefighters; staff said that project had closed out and fully expended its award.

Other nonprofit projects described by staff included: - WizKids of Oklahoma: literacy coaching for children in Title I schools; staff reported the program began using ARPA dollars in January 2025 and served an average of 538 students weekly to date. - Oklahoma Opry: consolidated programs into a single facility; staff said two primary beneficiary groups are children (free/reduced lunch eligibility) and veterans (free lessons and instruments). - Peaceful Family Solutions: therapeutic day camps for children affected by parental addiction or criminal justice involvement; staff said ARPA funded two camps of about 14 youth each and had served “over 32” students so far. - Lillian Timber Farms: holistic health and mental-health programs combining gardening, counseling and movement therapies. - Field in Futures (in partnership with Oklahoma City Public Schools): athletic-field and facility improvements to restore safe play and spectator amenities. - Millwood Public Schools: a new softball field that enabled the school to re-establish a varsity softball team for the first time in two years. - City of Bethany: roughly 300 feet of new sidewalk connecting residents to an All Abilities playground, YMCA, municipal court, police department and city hall (staff clarified the playground itself was not ARPA-funded). - Oklahoma Railway Museum: depot interior/exterior restoration, ADA improvements and HVAC work to support museum operations and seasonal events.

Staff said subrecipient intake and approval use a portal where churches, caseworkers and families can submit requests; staff noted examples ranged from large construction projects to requests for strollers or infant formula. Staff also reviewed reporting cadence: subrecipients were asked to submit quarterly reports and staff conducts reconciliation before posting expenditures to the Treasury portal. The presenter noted there are two annual reports and six remaining quarterly reports (including the one due at the end of October), leaving eight reporting periods before federal closeout in 2026.

County members asked clarifying questions about project counts and whether specific subrecipients had been site-visited; staff confirmed they have performed site visits and will continue visits and desk reviews to ensure compliance and to determine whether funds should be reallocated if projects do not move forward timely.

Ending: The Board voted to receive the ARPA subrecipient report. Staff said they will continue to update the Board after site visits and as reporting reconciliations are completed.

Votes at a glance - Motion: Receive ARPA subrecipient report; mover/second not named in transcript. Outcome: approved (voice vote: “Aye”).