The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
‘HELP IS ON THE WAY’
Local officials react to American Rescue Plan funding and benefits
CENTRAL N.Y. » State and local governments are expecting a big payout from Washington to help recover from Covid-related hardships and move forward as the crisis endures.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, announced in a press release that “help is on the way” in the form of $23.8 billion in state and local fiscal aid, including $12.56 billion for New York state’s government and more than $10.8 billion for counties, cities, towns, and villages, as part of funding secured for New York in the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, which President Joe Biden signed into effect on Thursday, March 11.
“The American Rescue Plan will provide a vital and substantial injection of funding for cash-strapped localities that can be used to pay for essential services, retain vital frontline workers, and offset lost revenues and increased costs from the COVID-19 emergency,” Schumer’s press release detailed.
Knowing that localities are the life-blood of NYS, the democratic senate majority leader said he’s fought since the beginning of the COVID crisis to secure financial resources to ensure their survival.
The funding has wiggle room to impact other areas of the community besides government, such as small businesses, hard-hit industries, and infrastructure investments to help rebuild local economies. Schumer says this funding will ensure essential
“I’m very pleased that we’re getting help from the federal government in the American Rescue Plan, and it’s going directly to municipalities.” — Oneida Mayor Hele Acker
services keep running, including the roll-out of the COVID vaccine.
It is estimated that New York state’s agencies and authorities will receive over $30 billion from the American Rescue Plan, on top of the funds from the state and local fiscal relief fund, according to his office.
“After fighting this pandemic on the frontlines, New York’s counties and municipalities were loud and clear: they needed help and they needed it now to keep frontline workers on the job and prevent brutal service cuts,” Schumer stated.
Many CNY officials are enjoying a sigh of relief knowing significant spending dollars and relief will soon be at their grasp.
Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri said that NYS municipalities have been negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. “Because of strong advocates like Senator Schumer, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provides municipalities with necessary resources to provide services and enhance the quality of our residents. I commend the Senator for his tireless efforts and thank him for his continued support.”
“I thank Senator Schumer for his tireless work in securing this aid package and for his steadfast support of local government, and I look forward to working with the cities of Utica and Rome to utilize this funding to further our economic development partnerships,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente.
Utica and Oneida County are estimated to receive $63.9 and $44.35 million in direct federal funding, respectively, according to an informational packet shared by Schumer’s office.
Neighboring Madison County will be getting relief to the estimated tune of $13.76 million.
County Chairman John Becker stated, “On behalf of the Madison County Board of Supervisors and the residents of Madison County, I would like to thank Majority Leader Schumer for his steadfast support of counties and delivering muchneeded aid during these difficult times caused by the COVID 19 pandemic. The ‘American Rescue Plan’ recognizes that the local governments have been at the frontline of this public health crisis. The financial support will help us rebuild our community and make it stronger than ever.”
The City of Oneida is estimated to receive $1.19 million in total over two years, explained Oneida Mayor Hele Acker. “I’m very pleased that we’re getting help from the federal government in the American Rescue Plan, and it’s going directly to municipalities. We are slated to receive approximately $597,000 for two years ($1.19 million total). Once we receive the paperwork with clear definitions and guidance of what we can and cannot do from the Office of the Treasury, we’ll get to work on it right away,” she stated.
The amount allocated to Oneida is determined by a formula from the Community Development Block Grant Program based on population, poverty, and the age of the density of housing, the mayor explained. She anticipates city spending will mostly be focused on infrastructure as it relates to water, sewer, and broadband, but this will be determined later once more details are ironed out.
The Town of Cazenovia is estimated to receive $770,000 and the Town of Lebanon to receive $140,000. Other estimates for cities, towns, and other localities can be found in the informational packet provided by Schumer’s office. All towns and villages will receive a direct allocation of federal aid, even if they are not included on this list.
Below is a breakdown from Schumer’s office on the $23.8 billion provided to New York State through the state and local fiscal relief fund:
• Funding is to keep first responders, frontline health workers, and other providers of vital services safely on the job as states and local governments roll out vaccines and fight to rebuild Main Street economies.
• Funding can be used for assistance to households, small businesses, nonprofits, aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality, investments in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, and to provide premium pay to frontline workers.
• Local governments of every size, including all counties, cities, towns, and villages, receive dedicated federal aid awards.
• A new $10 billion capital projects program also support state broadband deployment efforts.
• $12.569 Billion for New York State Government
• $6.141 Billion for New York Metro Cities
• $3.907 Billion for New York’s Counties
• $825 Million for New York’s Small Cities, Towns, and Villages
• $358 Million for a New York State Broadband Investment Program
Funds may be used by state and local governments for:
• Costs associated with responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency or its negative economic impacts, including but not limited to, assistance to households, small businesses, and nonprofits or aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality.
• To support workers performing essential work during the COVID-19 public health emergency by providing premium pay to eligible workers or by providing grants to eligible employers that have eligible workers who perform essential work.
• To cover revenue losses caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency.
• To make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.
This information is subject to change.