York City committee advances ARPA reallocations, consultant says moves are compliant amid public concern over housing-to-police shifts

York City’s council committee debated a proposed reallocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds on May 27, moving several previously approved line items to uses officials said can be completed and closed out before the federal spending deadline.

The administration presented a spending plan that shifts money to projects including $1.5 million for Penn Street Market renovations, roughly $480,000 for park master plans and design work, nearly $955,000 for building repairs at the Celia Nukem Center, and several smaller reassignments that would increase police‑department staffing support and cover overspends. The resolution and its amendments were slated to appear on the city’s June 2 legislative agenda.

Why it matters: The city must obligate and spend ARPA funds according to Treasury guidance or risk returning money to the federal government. Council members and residents pressed officials for written reports, meeting notes and evidence that the proposed reallocations meet Treasury rules; several members of the public said they fear housing projects have been scaled back while police staffing has received additional ARPA support.

Accenture, the city’s ARPA consultant, told the committee it provided independent reviews of eligibility and obligation. “Yes, these moves are compliant,” consultant Lisa Rainey said, explaining that the city met the obligation deadline using an internal agency mechanism allowed by Treasury guidance and that funds associated with projects that lacked enforceable contracts were returned to the city and may be reallocated to eligible, previously approved projects. Accenture recommended continued documentation to support audit defensibility.

Council members sought details on the timing and feasibility of completing projects this year. Director Gross said architects and schedules exist for some renovations, but warned that delays between the June 2 council meeting and the next scheduled meeting on July 21 could jeopardize approvals needed to keep projects on schedule. Several council members asked for monthly or biweekly spend‑down reports so the full council and public can track progress.

Public commenters voiced frustration that housing programs have not moved quickly enough. “We literally sat on money for three years,” York City resident Jasmine Rivera said, urging officials to prioritize homelessness and shelters rather than redirect funds. Manuel Gomez asked the committee to provide risk assessments and more detailed documentation about when obligation thresholds were met and how substantial scope changes were justified.

Administration officials and Accenture said reallocations were made after reviewing project scope, eligibility and whether enforceable contractor agreements had been executed. Several line items originally earmarked for housing were returned to the city because no binding contract existed, the administration said; those funds were offered to other eligible, previously approved projects that could be completed within the allowable timeline.

Next step: The committee agreed to place the amended ARPA reallocation resolution on the June 2 legislative agenda. Accenture and administration committed to continued updates and documentation; council members requested additional regular reporting to allow earlier detection of projects at risk of recapture.

(At the committee meeting, Accenture’s Lisa Rainey and Jennifer Maldonado were present and spoke on ARPA compliance; Mayor Walker and Treasurer Jeff Coat answered council questions.)