COLUMBIA, S.C. — Columbia officials said the city still has $2 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money left and has plans for it.
The city’s budget office explained how that’s possible three years after Congress initially passed the act.
“U.S. Treasury allocated funds in March of 2021 to the state and local fiscal recovery funds that was administered to all local governments, as well as states. And the city received $27 million as a part of that allocation,” Missy Caughman, with the City of Columbia Budget Office, said.
On Tuesday, the Columbia City Council discussed its amended budget that ends in June 2024. There is $2 million in ARPA funds that the city still has allocated to certain projects.
According to Caughman, some of the money was allocated for lost revenue.
“The city has chosen to take those funds in increments over the life of the entire grant,” she said.
The money goes right into the city’s general fund, which is used to support police and fire services. Caughman said the city has already used ARPA funding for other programs and services.
“The mayor has created the Office of Violent Crime Prevention ... was used to store up these funds. The city also used these funds to help the rapid shelter, which is the city’s pilot program for homeless persons that we’re operating full, year-round, and we’re also using it to shore up and do food insecurity programs,” Caughman said.
While this money already has a destination, residents have ideas of what they'd like the city to do with any future funds.
“There were a couple of other organizations that I think do great work as well that kind of go under the radar," resident Amy Bigham said. "One would be Sistercare; that they work with battered women and children. They’ve also expanded their work to include women and children who have been trafficked.”
“Yeah, if more could go to the Office of Violent Crimes and just policing the community and the homeless,” Robert Linker said.