County executive outlines ARPA spending, proposes $15M for local infrastructure and tax‑credit codification

Jackson County's executive briefed the legislature on the status of American Rescue Plan Act funds and proposed a path to deploy additional local infrastructure money.

The executive said Jackson County received roughly $136.5 million in federal ARPA funding in 2021–2022 and that, by December 2024, approximately $66.1 million had been obligated and expended; the remaining $70.4 million was obligated under ordinance 5955 in December 2024, in line with federal eligibility rules. He said federal single audits for FY2022–FY2024 are complete and FY2025 is scheduled. Because some ARPA‑eligible expenses charged to the county health fund and rising operational costs reduced flexibility for infrastructure uses, he proposed spending about $15,000,000 of prior ARPA balances for county infrastructure and municipal support.

Separately the executive said he will propose an ordinance to codify a residential tax‑relief plan that caps qualifying 2023–24 residential assessed values at a 15% increase over 2022 values (excluding new construction), and to distribute tax credits over three years (2025–27) for taxpayers affected by assessment errors. He asked colleagues to meet this week to discuss how to allocate the proposed $15 million and said staff will provide figures and bonding options that would not require new taxpayer dollars.

Legislators asked for future reports on opioid‑settlement funds, marijuana funds, and reconciliation of outside‑agency contract timing; the executive said audits and additional financial updates will be provided.