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Linn County staff say about $568,600 in ARPA funds remain but several commitments reduce usable balance
Summary
County staff presented an updated accounting of American Rescue Plan Act funds, saying roughly $568,619 remained after commitments and prior spending; commissioners and staff discussed which obligations are already committed and which projects could still use the money.
County staff told the Linn County Commission on Dec. 18 that approximately $568,618.76 remains in the county’s ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) fund after accounting for prior commitments and expenditures. The staff member presenting the figures said they had reviewed four years of payments and cross-checked records with existing project files to arrive at the updated total.
The presenter said the earlier figure of about $812,000 represented the cash balance but did not account for several commitments still to be paid, including two remaining annual payments of about $18,846 to the Regional Planning Commission and a roughly $58,000 contract retention that is payable when a vendor reaches 90% completion. The presenter added that some transactions initially were coded differently in the accounting system, which had caused the larger earlier balance to appear available when it was not.
Commissioners asked staff to clarify which line items had already been paid and which remained committed. A county staff member confirmed several large disbursements had already been made, including a $522,000 payment noted in the ledger, and other smaller amounts tied to previously approved projects. The presenter said the $18,846 line represents a five-year contract for management of ARPA funds; three of five annual installments have been paid and two remain.
Staff and commissioners discussed allowable uses for ARPA dollars. The presenter repeated that ARPA cannot be used for certain routine expenses such as retirement or salary obligations but can cover eligible projects that were completed if those projects were not reimbursed from other grants. Commissioners asked for more detailed, line-by-line backup so they could identify funds available for specific projects.
The presenter said they would provide a more detailed reconciliation later in the week. Commissioners directed staff to come back with final numbers and supporting documentation at the next meeting to support transfer or allocation decisions.
Ending — The county’s ARPA balance remains materially reduced by previously committed payments and contract obligations, and county staff promised detailed backup for commissioners at the next meeting so the board can decide how to allocate remaining funds.
