MEGAPIXEL / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
The Weld County Board of Commissioners has reviewed Don Warden’s preliminary draft Treasury Director for the use of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars allocated to Weld County. A total of $ 63,028,767 from the ARPA is earmarked for Weld County as part of a state distribution program designed to help offset revenue lost during the pandemic and meet local governments’ COVID-related costs.
While the county remains well-positioned financially, the county has had a negative financial impact due to the pandemic, including the cost of responding to COVID-19, as well as a drop in revenue from property taxes and severance payments that ultimately impact projects like road repair and maintenance .
Funds can be used under the US rescue plan to support the public health response; address negative economic impacts; Replace lost public sector revenue; Offer a bonus for key workers; Investments in water, wastewater and broadband infrastructure.
According to documents produced by Warden, Weld County saw a decrease in revenue of $ 70,085,612 compared to the base year revenue period ending December 31, 2019, through the 12 month calculation date of December 31, 2020.
The county’s revenue comes mostly from property taxes, and severance taxes have been negatively impacted by the pandemic.
The county received its first installment of federal dollars last April of just over $ 31.5 million. The second tranche of the same amount is expected in April 2022. The county’s completed recovery plan will be submitted to the U.S. Treasury Department on August 31, 2021.
Items and projects the funds will be used for include: additional prison costs related to COVID-19 in accordance with court order to protect staff and inmates; additional costs to the health department for salaries and additional staff for contact tracing, vaccine distribution, and setting up clinics; additional IT infrastructure costs to support online engagement during the pandemic for the public and staff; Maintaining planned infrastructure projects for public works (delays would lead to higher material costs and could have a negative impact on the traveling public); and maintaining planned projects for capital facilities.
Did you like what you just read?
Show your support for local journalism by helping us do more of it. It’s a kind and simple gesture that will help us keep bringing you stories like this one.
Click to donate
