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CCRPC PAC weighs FY22 funding priorities: ARPA lists, $650,000 for housing bylaw work and an energy-implementation staff hire
Summary
Regina Mahony told PAC members CCRPC expects to support ARPA project prioritization, a $650,000 housing bylaw modernization pot and about $129,000 for energy-implementation work; members raised questions about municipal readiness, staff capacity, and whether housing funds should flow through Municipal Planning Grants or directly to RPCs.
CCRPC staff outlined several FY22 programs and asked Planning Advisory Committee members whether their municipalities had started planning for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) project lists and whether CCRPC assistance would be useful.
Regina Mahony, planning program manager, said RPCs have some funding to assist municipalities with ARPA project list development and prioritization, with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) leading statewide guidance. Members said most communities have not been tasked with ARPA planning; some municipalities — Jericho and Burlington among them — have begun considering broadband and water infrastructure priorities.
Mahony said CCRPC will assemble broadband-coverage options for Chittenden County and host a meeting to discuss a potential path forward. Charlie Baker, CCRPC executive director, cautioned that the total amount of funds municipalities ultimately receive is still uncertain because of a question involving county-level allocation and how the Treasury treats Vermont’s side judges; the state delegation is making the case that side judges are not a “general purpose government,” Baker said, and the outcome affects how much funding reaches municipalities.
Mahony also described $650,000 in state funds aimed at housing bylaw modernization and said the Department of Housing and Community Development (ACCD) has asked RPCs whether those funds should be distributed through the Municipal Planning Grant (MPG) process or allocated directly to RPCs for faster use. Members noted trade-offs: MPG funds can support consultant work but take longer; direct RPC allocations can be quicker but staff capacity at CCRPC is limited and municipal budgets for FY22 are generally fixed.
On energy implementation, Mahony said CCRPC anticipates receiving $129,000 for the work and is considering hiring a staff member to support towns. Committee members said many local energy committees lack staff and would welcome support, but emphasized that staff time should be tied to concrete deliverables (project scoping, community net-metering, grant writing) rather than only staffing volunteer committees. Mahony said CCRPC would circulate a short solicitation to managers, planners and energy committee chairs to identify action-oriented projects and would begin advertising the position.
Members did not take a formal vote on funding allocation at the June 9 meeting; CCRPC staff said they will get outstanding questions answered and provide feedback to ACCD in the coming weeks.
