Carroll County staff reported to the Board of Commissioners on Oct. 23 that the county has obligated its $32.7 million State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (FRF) allocation, has spent about $21 million (roughly 64 percent) and is recommending limited use of accrued FRF interest to finish ongoing projects.

Debbie Staniford, grants officer, said the board obligated all FRF award money by the federal contract deadline and that the county has focused FRF investments on broadband, water and wastewater, HVAC and public works projects, behavioral-health and shelter work, and limited stormwater and COVID response efforts. "We were awarded $32,700,000," Staniford said. "We have spent about 21,000,000, about 64% spent." She also said the county has earned roughly $4.2 million in interest on FRF funds and had allocated about $2.5 million; roughly $1.7 million of interest remained unallocated.

Staniford reviewed categories: about 50 percent of county FRF went to broadband expansion; 18 percent to water and wastewater projects (including municipal partnerships); 16 percent to human services (family shelter and behavioral health); and roughly 12 percent to public-works projects (HVAC upgrades at county facilities). She told commissioners most projects are under contract and staff is aiming to complete work by the federal expenditure deadline in 2026.

Commissioners asked how the county will handle projects that fall behind schedule. Staniford said contracts typically include performance expectations and that the county will return to the board if projects require additional funding. She recommended leaving remaining FRF interest available as a contingency to close out projects if necessary. "I think that we can strategically use some of the interest at the end of the projects," she said, adding that staff will return in 2026 with a detailed closeout plan.

Commissioner [mover not specified] moved to accept staff recommendations regarding FRF interest funds; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Staniford said the county leveraged state grants and private internet-service-provider investments; total broadband investment cited in the presentation was about $49 million, of which approximately $17 million was county FRF money. She also noted the county used FRF to match state grant awards for municipal water projects and to fund HVAC improvements at workforce development and other county facilities.

The board approved staff's recommendation to retain flexibility to reallocate interest earnings into the existing FRF project portfolio if needed to complete contracted work by federal deadlines. Staff said they will present a summary of project balances and any recommended uses of interest in 2026.