Seeking Community Feedback -- ARPA Funding
As Berlin prepares to invest American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funds, community input will help assess the needs of town residents and explore how funding can be aligned with local priorities. The Berlin Select Board seeks public feedback by no later than February 28, 2022. Submissions are for the Board's review and consideration.
Q: What is the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)?
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) included $350 billion in pandemic-related aid for state and local governments. ARPA funds must be fully obligated by December 31, 2024, and fully expended by December 31, 2026. Massachusetts is receiving $8.7 billion ($5.3 billion for state government and $3.4 for city & town level allocation). Berlin's total allocation is $968,458 with $484,229 received to date in this Fiscal Year 2022.
Q: How may ARPA funds be spent?
ARPA includes four broad criteria outlining eligible uses:
- Respond to the public health emergency and its negative economic impacts
- Provide premium pay to eligible essential workers
- Provide government services to the extent of eligible governments' revenue losses
- Make necessary water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure investments
Q: What is Berlin's preliminary direction on ARPA spending?
The Administrative Finance Team recommended the first 4 “best practice” approaches; the Select Board embraced the first 4 and added the final 2 goals:
- Gather input from the community, Town boards, committees, and departments to identify widely-supported one-time project needs
- Involve key Town financial stakeholders to guide the Board on selecting projects requiring significant funding (including Capital Planning and Finance Committees and AFT)
- Avoid funding recurring/operational costs (to prevent the creation of a structural deficit)
- Avoidance funding areas/agencies already funded by other sources
- Reduce ongoing Town costs
- Allow the Town to avail itself of grants to complete high-priority projects for the community
Send feedback in one of three ways:
(1) EMAIL: subject “ARPA feedback” to selectmen@townofberlin.com with:
- Your Name & Contact Information (w/ Town Committee, Dept. or organization)
- Summary of Project
- How Project would impact/benefit Town or provide for future opportunity
(2) US MAIL:
(3) GOOGLE FORM