Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Arpa Reallocation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Legislature reallocates ARPA funds to avoid federal deadline; members say commitment to mental-health projects remains
Summary
The legislature approved reallocating American Rescue Plan Act funds on the consent agenda because earlier allocations could not be completed before federal deadlines; lawmakers and staff said the move is a timing and accounting step, not a retreat from commitments to a mental health stabilization unit and detox center.
Tompkins County legislators unanimously approved a consent-agenda resolution reallocating ARPA funds that had not been spent in time to meet federal deadlines. Budget Capital and Personnel chair Deborah Dawson explained the reallocation was necessary because the original ARPA purposes could not be completed before federal deadlines, and federal rules now prevent reopening the original allocation process.
Deborah Dawson said the reallocation "is not a lack of commitment to a mental health stabilization unit or a detox center," but a timing issue that would otherwise force the county to return funds to Washington. Legislator Mike Sigler, who had the item pulled for discussion in committee, thanked Dawson for the clarification and reiterated that the county remains committed to the mental health projects once licensing and other hurdles are resolved.
The consent agenda also carried other items including grant awards, CHDF disbursements and a fair housing resolution. The legislature used a roll-call vote and recorded the consent agenda as unanimous.
