Meadow to move roughly $39,000 in ARPA funds into water fund; public hearing set to amend budget

Speaker 1 led a multi-part review of the town's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money, explaining the town received roughly $38,000–$39,000 and must either commit eligible spending or return the funds. "They're either gonna we either have to show it spent or send it back," Speaker 1 said, describing time and contract constraints that made some water and infrastructure projects infeasible.

Speakers 2 and 3 described how many small towns used ARPA funds for salaries and wages tied to water operations when specific capital projects could not be contracted by the federal deadlines. Speaker 2 said the town applied ARPA against water salaries and wages for 2021–2023 and that Flores (staff) is working to move the line items from the general fund into the water fund so the accounting reflects those reimbursements.

The council agreed it must open a budget amendment and hold a public hearing to move the approximately $39,000 into the water fund and submit a revised budget to the state. Participants discussed scheduling and available dates around school events and tentatively agreed to hold the public hearing on May 12 with the hearing to begin at 7 p.m. followed by the town council meeting; Speaker 2 said the posting will be done to meet notice requirements.

Ella Mordick of Congresswoman Celeste Moy's office attended; Speaker 1 asked her to report the constraints small towns encountered with ARPA and to relay that the town utilized the funds to benefit the community.

Next steps: staff will work with Flores on accounting entries, schedule the public hearing (tentatively May 12 at 7 p.m.) and submit the amended budget to the state.