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2 <br /> 5. Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, making necessary investments to <br /> improve access to clean drinking water, support vital wastewater and stormwater <br /> infrastructure, and to expand access to broadband internet. <br /> The interim guidance also indicates that the funds may be used to support education programs <br /> aimed at addressing educational disparities and child care programs that promote healthy <br /> childhood environments including: <br /> 1. Addressing educational disparities through new or expanded early learning services, <br /> providing additional resources to high-poverty school districts, and offering educational <br /> services like tutoring or afterschool programs as well as services to address social, <br /> emotional, and mental health needs; and, <br /> 2. Promoting healthy childhood environments, including new or expanded high quality <br /> childcare, home visiting programs for families with young children, and enhanced services <br /> for child welfare-involved families and foster youth <br /> County departments were asked to submit proposals consistent with the interim guidance and the <br /> goals established by the Board of Commissioners in prior funding allocations. County <br /> departments submitted requests totaling over $44 million. In addition to these proposals, the <br /> Board of Commissioners approved budget amendments for FY2021-22 allocating $5,320,000 to <br /> support a broadband infrastructure project, an economic assistance program for property tax <br /> relief, and staffing for the Small Business Center at the Orange County Campus of Durham <br /> Technical Community College. <br /> This abstract provides two options for allocating the funds. The first option (Attachment 1) takes <br /> an incremental approach to funding decisions. It funds the items approved in the FY2021-22 <br /> Budget, including $5.3 million in budget amendments, as well as situations where funding will be <br /> required to close FY2020-21 in a positive fund balance positon and initiatives that require funding <br /> between the date of adoption and November 1, 2021 . <br /> This option contemplates another review of funding allocations in September and October which <br /> may result in additional allocations during the FY2021-22 fiscal year. In total, this option allocates <br /> $12,366,261 and preserves $16,473,461 for future funding decisions. <br /> The second option (Attachment 2) accelerates funding allocations to provide most funding in the <br /> first two years of the plan. This option is limited by cash flow availability in the first year as the <br /> County has only accepted approximately $14.4 million of its total $28.8 million allocation in <br /> FY2021-22. As a result, the broadband infrastructure project is divided over two fiscal years, and <br /> funds for emergency housing assistance direct payments are reduced by $750,000 from the total <br /> $4 million request in the first year and are spread over a span of three years instead of two years. <br /> Over the summer, staff will continue to monitor and review opportunities to use ARPA funding in <br /> partnership with other jurisdictions, to leverage outside funding, and to structure other potential <br /> funding sources in a way that serves residents with the most appropriate programs while <br /> maintaining the County's flexibility to respond and adapt as conditions and needs dictate. For <br /> example, some departments are currently aware of potential streams of funding for programs that <br /> are also eligible for ARPA expenditures. In an effort to prioritize funding sources and streamline <br />