Town of Chapel Hill issued the following announcement on Oct. 22.
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) includes money for local, county, and state governments to address difficulties caused by COVID-19. Governments are still waiting for more information on how funds can be spent, and the Town is already working on how to get community input and approve proposed projects.
ARPA funds can be used to:
- Support public health. Fund medical expenses, behavioral healthcare, and certain public health and safety staff.
- Address negative economic impacts. Relieve economic harm to workers, households, small businesses, affected industries, and the public sector.
- Replace lost town revenue. Provide government services to the extent of the loss in revenue because of the pandemic.
- Provide premium pay for essential workers. Offer additional support to those who have borne and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical infrastructure sectors.
- Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure. Make necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, support vital wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and expand access to broadband internet.
- Build a town's savings reserves or repay loans
- Litigation costs
- Fund a town's pension debts
- Offset loss in tax revenue as a result of a law, regulation, or administrative interpretation
- Lower tax rates
- General growth or economic development purposes
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