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How Bucks County government, towns and schools can spend the nearly $300M coming under the American Rescue Plan

How Bucks County government, towns and schools can spend the nearly $300M coming under the American Rescue Plan | Newtown News of Interest | Scoop.it

How Bucks County government, towns and schools can spend the nearly $300M coming under the American Rescue Plan

 

Hundreds of millions of dollars in federal pandemic relief funding will begin pouring into Bucks County this month.

 

The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan will pump the largest sums yet in federal COVID-19 relief into the area — an unprecedented $298 million combined for Bucks government and the 54 municipalities here, as well as the area's 13 public school districts.

 

State and local governments are expected to receive the first distribution of funds no later than Monday. The balance of the funds will be sent a year from the first distribution, but no sooner.

 

How can the money be used? Rick Schuettler is executive director of the Pennsylvania Municipal League, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that advocates for policies and programs that benefit third-class cities throughout the state.

 

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How Should Newtown Township Spend the $1.94 Million It Will Receive? TAKE MY SURVEY

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“This level of direct funding to municipalities is something that’s unprecedented in today’s political environment,” Schuettler said. “For those who weren’t in a great (financial) position when the pandemic hit, this is a tremendous boost to them.”

 

While the U.S. Treasury is finalizing American Rescue Plan guidelines, Schuettler said some eligible uses for the funding are already clear.

 

“Water, sewer and broadband projects appear to be eligible,” he said. “Some folks are looking at housing and funding for the homeless. There is money for assistance for small businesses, and it can be used for revenue losses. Those are things a lot of municipalities can start to look at pretty quickly in terms of using the money.”

 

David Sanko, executive director of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, said there are "four pots" into which the money can be put: COVID-19 response, revenue losses, premium pay for essential government workers and infrastructure work.

 

Schuettler said PML planned tol host webinars to better explain the American Rescue Plan’s guidelines and nuances to officials from across the state.

 

“People are looking for that information,” he said. “We want to provide some clarity.”

 

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How Should Newtown Township Spend the $1.94 Million It Will Receive? TAKE MY SURVEY

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johnmacknewtown's insight:

NOTE: Newtown Township’s allocation of these funds is anticipated to be $1,936,231. The Township should have ½ of the Township’s funds by June 9, 2021. The State will have it by May 10, 2021 and it has 30 days to distribute to municipalities. The second half will come before March 11, 2022.

 

Related Content:

 

  • “Newtown Township to Receive $1,936,231 in Federal Relief Funds”; http://sco.lt/6i2hLU
  • “PA Lawmakers Have No Plan Yet For How $7 Billion in COVID Relief Can Be Spent By Newtown & Other Townships. But Maybe You Do!”; http://sco.lt/7pNQeW
  • “How Should Newtown Spend COVID-19 Relief Money?”; http://sco.lt/7QvnKy
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Newtown News of Interest
These Scoops are excerpts from articles published in local newspapers and other sources that may be of interest to Newtown area residents. Please click on the "From" link to access the full original article. Any opinions and "insights" appended to these article summaries are solely those of John Mack and do not represent the opinions of any other person or entity.
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