February 25, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
DeKalb County plans to put its share of state direct appropriation grant money to good use.
During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the county commission will consider adopting a budget amendment to appropriate a portion of the county’s grant of $343,764 already received toward repaving the parking lots of the county complex, central dispatch/911 center, EMS, the county fire department’s main station, and repaving and repairing fences at county garbage collection convenience sites subject to funding. Based on estimates already received, the cost to repave the county complex parking lot could be $151,042 and $29,957 for the EMS parking lot under state bid pricing. Estimates will be received for the other identified projects.
Separate from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) funding, counties and cities across the state have received a direct state appropriation grant award for 2021-22 which allows the local governing bodies to determine the needs of that city or county that most need to be met. Expenditures should be non-recurring in nature, can potentially replace lost revenue, and do not have to be related to COVID-19. Funds are subject to review by the Comptroller of the Treasury.
During a committee of the whole meeting of the county commission Thursday night, County Mayor Tim Stribling said while it was first thought that there was no statutory deadline for spending the grant funds, he has learned that the grant awards must actually be claimed or committed to projects no later than June 30, 2022. Otherwise, any unspent balance of said appropriation shall revert to the state general fund.
State direct appropriation grant awards to the cities are as follows:
City of Smithville: $68,457
City of Alexandria: $26,072
City of Liberty: $18,610
City of Dowelltown: $19,398