Village prepares to request ARP funding

North Perry Village Council has taken the first legislative steps needed for the community’s government to receive American Rescue Plan funding.

Council approved two ordinances at its Aug. 5 meeting to lay the groundwork for the village to secure federal money through the American Rescue Plan Act. This $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill was approved by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden in March.

One of the measures passed by council created a new and separate account within the community government’s budget to direct, manage and control money obtained through the American Rescue Plan. In addition, council enacted an ordinance authorizing the mayor or his designee to apply for and receive the funds.

“The key is, we have to put the account (for American Rescue Plan money) in place, and we have to approve (an additional ordinance) that designates the mayor and (village) fiscal officer as our appointed persons (to apply for and receive ARP funds),” said village Solicitor James O’Leary. “Those are the two key pieces of information for this part of it.”

Council approved both ordinances unanimously.

At future meetings, council will be acting on additional legislation, such as policies and procedures for the village’s use of program funding.

The American Rescue Plan Act will provide additional funding “to address the continued impact of COVID-19 on the economy, public health, state and local governments, individuals and businesses,” according to a summary provided by the Congressional Research Service.

North Perry Village has been allocated about $92,600, according to one of the ordinances passed on Aug. 5.

Those funds will be made available to the village in two equal portions. No distribution dates are listed in the ordinance, although the legislation stated that the second installment will be disbursed no earlier than a year after the first allocation.

Funds received may only be used for approved expenses incurred from March 31 of this year through Dec. 31, 2024, the ordinance stated. All funds must be spent by Dec. 31, 2026.

Non-entitlement units of local government can request approval to use American Rescue Plan funding for purposes that include:

• Responding to the COVID-19 emergency or its negative economic impacts, including assistance to households, small businesses, and nonprofits, or aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality.

• Providing premium pay to eligible workers or providing grants to employers of essential workers during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

• Providing government services to the extent of reductions in revenue, relative to revenues collected during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

• Making necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.

“The beauty of this is, we have up until 2024 to identify (projects or other sanctioned expenditures) and up to 2026 to spend it,” O’Leary said.