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Board reallocates ARPA funds to avoid federal deadline, freeing local funds for Virginia Creeper Trail repairs
Summary
To avoid risking ARPA deobligation, supervisors uncommitted $387,000 previously reserved for Virginia Creeper Trail Trestle 31 and moved ARPA to cover regional jail operations while transferring local funds of $387,000 into a capital earmark for the trestle; motions passed unanimously.
At the Aug. 27 meeting, county staff and Ms. Sturgill explained that Washington County must obligate American Rescue Plan Act funds by Dec. 31, 2024. Because the Virginia Creeper Trail Trestle 31 project has not yet reached contract, staff recommended uncommitting $387,000 in ARPA funds and reallocating ARPA to cover Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority operations so county local funds could be moved into the capital improvement fund and earmarked for the trestle repair when the federal approvals and contract are ready.
Ms. Sturgill said the delay stemmed from U.S. Forest Service approvals and some engineering challenges; she and staff proposed an accounting reallocation that preserves county commitments without risking ARPA deobligation. The motions uncommitted $387,000 for the trestle and $23,443.23 in other unspent ARPA funds, allocated a total of $410,443.23 in ARPA to government services (regional jail operations), and authorized transferring $387,000 in county local funds to a capital improvement earmark for the trestle.
Supervisor Ball moved the primary motions; the board recorded a 7–0 vote in favor.
Staff said the accounting is zero-sum: ARPA funds will be used for government services now and local funds will be available to maintain the county's commitment to the trail repair when the contract is ready.
