DATE: August 24, 2021
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Jean M. Rousseau, County Administrative Officer
SUBJECT: American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1.) Receive update on the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 - initial funding categories
2.) Direct staff to submit initial Recovery Plan Performance Report to the U.S. Treasury by August 31, 2021
3.) Authorize the CAO, or his designee, to sign required documents pertaining to the submittal of reports to the U.S. Treasury
REPORT
Approval of the recommended actions will authorize staff to submit the initial Recovery Plan Performance Report to the U.S. Treasury by August 31, 2021 and provide authorization for the CAO, or his designee, to sign any required documents pertaining to the submittal of reports to the U.S. Treasury.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may direct staff to amend the initial Report prior to submitting to the U.S. Treasury.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The County will receive $194,063,657 in two installments. The County received the first tranche of $97,031,825.50 on June 17, 2021 and will receive the remaining balance in May of 2022.
DISCUSSION:
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) was signed into law on March 11, 2021 by President Biden and provides $350 billion for state, local, territorial, and tribal governments to respond to the COVID-19 emergency and bring back jobs. The County of Fresno will receive $194,063,657 that may be used for eligible expenses such as: supporting public health response, addressing negative economic impacts, replacing public sector revenue loss, providing premium pay for essential workers, investing in water and sewer infrastructure, and investing in broadband infrastructure.
On May 10, 2021 the U.S. Treasury released an Interim Final Rule (IFR) to implement the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund and Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). The IFR requires states, metropolitan cities and counties with a population that exceeds 250,000 residents to submit a “Recovery Plan Performance Report” (Report) by August 31, 2021 and annually thereafter on July 30th, through year 2026, with a final report due on March 31, 2027. Since the County has not yet allocated or expended ARPA funds, the initial Report simply provides an outline as to how the County may consider allocating the funding.
If approved today, the County Administrative office will continue to work in collaboration with the Ad Hoc Committee in the solicitation, vetting, recommendation, and allocation of ARPA funding.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #7, July 13, 2021
BAI #36.1, May 25, 2021
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Exhibit - Recovery Plan Performance Report
CAO ANALYST:
Yussel Zalapa