Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Water Sector Commission adopts revised ARPA payment and closeout guidance to prioritize nearly‑complete projects
Loading...
Summary
The commission adopted changes to ARPA payment and closeout guidance that allow the program to front‑load ARPA payments to projects substantially under construction (subject to contract limits) and reconcile local match at project completion; commissioners asked for prioritization focusing first on projects at higher percent complete and requested reporting and a communications package.
The Water Sector Commission on April 16 adopted revised guidance for paying and closing out water projects funded with ARPA dollars, directing staff to prioritize payments to projects that have made substantial construction progress and to reconcile local match when projects are completed.
Ginger Moses of the Division presented program statistics and the rationale for the change, reporting that phase 1 obligations total about $767 million in federal ARPA funds with $523.2 million dispersed as of April 2 and roughly $243.8 million remaining. Moses said staff currently classifies seven projects as high risk and identified a set of projects whose construction schedules extend beyond ARPA expenditure deadlines.
Gina Campo of the Division of Administration presented draft amended language that would allow the program to "front load the ARPA dollars" up to the ARPA grant amount specified in each contract (CEA) and then require a detailed closeout package at construction completion to reconcile ARPA versus local expenditures. "We believe that it's in full compliance with all regulations," Campo said, and she said internal auditors support the administrative approach.
Commissioners asked about state liability if a partially funded project fails to finish and about how to prioritize among projects. Chairman Zirang and staff discussed starting with projects at 75% or greater completion and reporting back periodically. Senator Bass asked whether the changes could be monitored and adjusted before the ARPA expenditure deadline; staff said they will provide reports on projects at 75% or greater within a month.
The chairman put a motion to adopt the revisions and, with no objection, the commission adopted the guideline changes. Commissioners also asked staff to prepare concise program materials (dollar totals, number of projects, connected users) and a communications plan for the upcoming legislative outreach.
The commission directed staff to prioritize projects with higher percent complete, provide a program review schedule and regular reporting, and to reconcile exact ARPA and local-match amounts at project closeout.
