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28 <br /> 1 <br /> 2 4. Discussion on County Departments' Requests for American Rescue Plan Act <br /> 3 (ARPA) Funds <br /> 4 <br /> 5 The Board discussed approaches to allocate approximately $28.8 million in Federal <br /> 6 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that the County is designated to receive over two <br /> 7 draw down periods. <br /> 8 Travis Myren reviewed the following information: <br /> 9 <br /> 10 BACKGROUND: <br /> 11 The Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provides direct allocations to local <br /> 12 governments. Orange County is designated to receive approximately $28.8 million. The first <br /> 13 draw down of approximately $14.4 million was approved by the Board of Commissioners on a <br /> 14 budget amendment on June 1, 2021. The second draw down will occur in twelve (12) months. <br /> 15 ARPA funds must be obligated by December 31, 2024 and must be fully expended by <br /> 16 December 31, 2026. <br /> 17 <br /> 18 The ARPA funds are intended to broadly address the negative impacts of the COVID-19 <br /> 19 pandemic on individuals, government agencies, organizations, and small businesses. The <br /> 20 Treasury Department has issued interim guidance on the use of ARPA funds for local <br /> 21 governments. This guidance establishes five broad categories for potential investments: <br /> 22 <br /> 23 1. Support public health expenditures, by funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical <br /> 24 expenses, behavioral healthcare, and certain public health and safety staff; <br /> 25 <br /> 26 2. Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, including <br /> 27 economic harms to workers, households, small businesses, impacted industries, and the <br /> 28 public sector; <br /> 29 <br /> 30 3. Replace lost public sector revenue, using this funding to provide government services to <br /> 31 the extent of the reduction in revenue experienced due to the pandemic; <br /> 32 <br /> 33 4. Provide premium pay for essential workers, offering additional support to those who <br /> 34 have borne and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical <br /> 35 infrastructure sectors; and, <br /> 36 <br /> 37 5. Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, making necessary investments to <br /> 38 improve access to clean drinking water, support vital wastewater and stormwater <br /> 39 infrastructure, and to expand access to broadband internet. <br /> 40 <br /> 41 The interim guidance also indicates that the funds may be used to support education programs <br /> 42 aimed at addressing educational disparities and child care programs that promote healthy <br /> 43 childhood environments including: <br /> 44 <br /> 45 1. Addressing educational disparities through new or expanded early learning services, <br /> 46 providing additional resources to high-poverty school districts, and offering educational <br /> 47 services like tutoring or afterschool programs as well as services to address social, <br /> 48 emotional, and mental health needs; and, <br /> 49 <br />