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Monmouth Council approves revised ARPA spending plan to obligate remaining funds before federal deadline
Summary
Finance Director Susie Marston reported $581,000 of Monmouth’s ARPA funds remained un‑obligated and recommended redirecting about $130,000 to safety and facility upgrades; the council approved the revised spending plan to obligate funds before the Dec. 31 deadline.
The Monmouth City Council approved a revised spending plan for remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds after a presentation by Finance Director Susie Marston.
Marston reported the city originally received just over $2,350,000 in ARPA funds and as of Nov. 30 had about $581,000 still to obligate. She said federal guidance requires the city to obligate those funds by Dec. 31 or risk returning them to the U.S. Treasury. Staff identified roughly $130,000 of planned projects that were unlikely to be obligated by the deadline (source water development and business resiliency categories) and proposed redirecting those dollars to immediate facility and safety needs: installing an audible fire alarm system in City Hall, upgrades to police department door security, and further upgrades to the council‑chamber audio system. Marston noted other uses previously paid for (hearing loop system) and planned furniture purchases for council chambers and the lobby.
Councilors discussed the recommendation and expressed support for using ARPA to fund safety and operations improvements that might otherwise be deferred due to budget constraints. A motion to approve the revised ARPA spending plan passed by voice vote.
Next steps: staff will prepare necessary purchase orders, contracts or other commitments to obligate funds before the Dec. 31 deadline and return to council with any supplemental budget items per standard procedure.
