The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) was signed into law on March 11, 2021, and established the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) to combat the negative public health and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation includes $65.1 billion dollars of flexible aid provided to every county in the United States. Manatee County has received its full award of $78.3 million dollars with Treasury imposed deadlines to obligate all by funds by December 31, 2024, and to fully spend SLFRF dollars by December 31, 2026.
Specifically, on May 10, 2021, Treasury issued the Interim Final Rule implementing the SLFRF program and designating that SLFRF funds may be used for the following general purposes:
- To respond to the public health emergency and its negative economic impact on the community
- To respond to workers performing essential services during the public health emergency by providing premium pay for eligible workers
- For the provision of general government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue due to the public health emergency
- To make necessary investments in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure
On December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 was enacted amending the SLFRF program to provide additional flexibility for SLFRF recipients to use funds for the following purposes:
- To provide emergency relief from natural disasters
- To provide funds for surface transportation projects
- To provide funds for Title I projects
To learn more about SLFRF, please visit the US Department of the Treasury Website.
General Overview (An Evolutionary Process)
In the Beginning
Beginning in April 2021, with initial assistance from Ernst & Young, Manatee County Government was able to quickly identify key components of the legislation and then provided guidance to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), internal departments and programs, and partner agencies, to access their extensive, existing community outreach avenues to develop an initial roadmap and implementation plan to respond to the physical and economic harm caused by COVID-19. BOCC work sessions and regular meetings further encouraged participation by the general public in person and via community access television to further refine the action plan. A prospective list of services, equipment and capital projects was established in January 2022 that would work toward building a strong and equitable recovery from the pandemic and economic downturn.
Manatee County demographics illustrate large aging, homeless and transient populations, resulting in a disproportional share of citizens that are most susceptible to COVID-19 and its harmful effects. In addition, because of exceptional year-round weather, the county population increases dramatically with seasonal residents and visitors during the winter months, stretching public health & safety, community, infrastructure, and other services to its capacity. The pandemic and its aftermath have further magnified the demand for those services.
Initially, the BOCC directed SLFRF funds towards mitigating and preventing the spread of COVID-19 and further emphasizing the health and safety of our citizens.
As of June 30, 2022, Manatee County had total expenditures of $12.8 million, with 98% of those dollars going towards prioritized public health & safety projects. Key outcome goals of those projects included the mitigation and prevention of positive COVID-19 cases in Manatee County by adding additional COVID testing, and vaccination facilities located in strategic areas across the county and the sanitization of public facilities and EMS medical equipment. Simultaneously, SLFRF funds were used to purchase ambulances and other EMS vehicles and approved for deploying advanced life support (ALS) and basic life support (BLS) personnel with the key outcome goal of reducing EMS response times to our citizens. In addition, the county established a public health data system to better identify and respond to emerging disease patterns, and finally, purchased new portable radios to increase communication quality with our Sheriff Deputies when responding to active 911 calls. Overall, these projects laid the foundation for building a safer, healthier community and a strong, equitable recovery from the pandemic.
Early Evolution
As the pandemic subsided, the Manatee County BOCC and Administration refocused their attention from a COVID-19 emergent response to recovery projects.
Increased population growth in the northern and eastern regions of the county necessitated increasing sewer capacity, building a new EMS station, purchasing an additional ambulance, and improving the access road leading to the new EMS facility. In addition, various stormwater repair projects began to address localized flooding issues. And finally, in collaboration with the Florida Housing Coalition, studies to identify solutions for reducing homelessness were initiated.
As acknowledged in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the pandemic had a significant negative impact on the health and welfare of American citizens, and to the economies of many communities across the United States. Consequently, the Department of Treasury provided a formula allowing each jurisdiction to calculate the amount of revenue loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and allowed state, local, and tribal governments to expand the use of SLFRF funds to include reimbursement for traditional government services. This expanded use of funds also included projects which may have been restricted and/or excluded under the other sections of Treasury Guidance. The loss of revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Manatee County was calculated to be $109.5 million dollars. However, the Guidance limits the calculation to be capped at the full SLFRF grant award, or $78.3 million.
Next Generation
In February 2023, the BOCC directed individual commissioners, county administration and county departments to reassess the remaining original, prospective projects with the following considerations: pandemic recurrence was no longer a factor, a review of revised Treasury Guidance, including a better understanding of Revenue Loss Provisions, and forthcoming Treasury deadlines fast approaching. Consequently, on May 23, 2023, the BOCC reappropriated the remaining $52.6 million unobligated/unspent SLFRF funds to reimburse the payroll of the essential workers of Manatee County, a traditional government service.
As of June 30, 2023, Manatee County had obligations/expenditures of $16.2 million directed towards active and/or completed projects, with an additional $9.5 million appropriated to complete active projects. These projects represented $25.7 million or 32.8% of the total SLFRF grant with the remaining $52.6 million appropriated for essential payroll reimbursement.
Final Chapter
Between July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024, there were no new SLFRF projects established. However, following in the spirit of the American Rescue Plan Act, on August 3, 2023, the BOCC established a reserve from unrestricted funds, to provide generational impact projects that will continue the recovery of Manatee County beyond the deadlines established by the Treasury.
With essential worker payroll reimbursed and the remaining active projects moving to completion, as of June 30, 2024, $74.5 million or 95.1% of SLFRF funds were obligated or spent towards completed/active projects, with the remaining $3.8 million (4.9%) earmarked for one remaining project (Parrish Sanitary Sewer) currently in the pre-construction bidding process and the final administration costs of the SLFRF grant.
As noted in the opening paragraph, all SLFRF funds must be fully obligated by December 31, 2024, and fully spent by December 31, 2026. Accordingly, Manatee County has been monitoring and evaluating all projects for compliance with these critical deadlines since the inception of the grant.
The following pie chart illustrates the allocation of total appropriated SLFRF funds ($78,327,168) as of June 30, 2024:
Approved Projects (14) as of June 30, 2024:
Public Health & Safety
EMS Response SUV
EMS Station House
Public Health Data System
ALS Ambulance EMT Staffing
BLS Ambulances & EMTs
Sheriff Radios
COVID-19 Testing DOH
COVID-19 Response(s)
Community/Infrastructure
Parrish Sewer Expansion
Stormwater Projects
Assistance for the Homeless
Government Services
Payroll Reimbursement
Administration
Ernst & Young
FMD ARP Compliance
As of June 30, 2024, total obligations/expenditures are $74,505,273. The following chart illustrates the actual obligations/expenditures made versus the total award:
As of June 30, 2024, total obligations/expenditures for Public Health and Safety are $20,0432,290:
As of June 30, 2024, total obligations/expenditures for Administration are $667,690:
As of June 30, 2024, obligations/expenditures for Community and Infrastructure Projects are $1,195,184:
As of June 30, 2024, obligations/expenditures for Government Services Projects are $52,399,108:
The following reports illustrate the approved projects with appropriated funds, project to date obligations/expenditures and remaining balances for the periods ending June 30, 2022 - June 30, 2024:
To view the full 2021-2023 SLFRF Recovery Plan Performance Reports, please click the following links:
2021 SLFRF Recovery Plan Performance Report
2022 SLFRF Recovery Plan Performance Report
2023 SLFRF Recovery Plan Performance Report
2024 SLFRF Recovery Plan Performance Report