Pennsylvania will receive more than $7 billion in COVID relief next week, but there's no plan yet on how to spend the money from the American Rescue Plan.
Many state residents have already received their $1,400 stimulus checks, but there's more money on the way in the form of state aid that the Legislature will decide how to spend.
Because the General Assembly has not passed a plan to distribute the funds, residents in need are waiting for rent relief and money that could help save small businesses, some lawmakers said.
Democratic legislators have introduced their own Pennsylvania Rescue Plan, which would distribute the $7.3 billion of federal help to schools, workers, businesses, families, renters, landlords and more.
Republican lawmakers, who hold the majority in the state Legislature, have not released a plan to distribute the funds.
The majority party faced backlash last year when it used rent relief funds to fill a budget hole.
Now, because of previous federal stimulus money, Pennsylvania has a $600 million surplus.
With no budget holes to fill, Democrats are hoping the Republican-led Legislature will support Gov. Tom Wolf's spending plan. But so far, there hasn't been much of an appetite among Republicans to even acquiesce to the governor's priorities.
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.
What Can That Money Be Spent On?
See below, then tell me what SHOULD That Money Be Spent On. TAKE MY SURVEY: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3D659HL
There are several suggestions and recommendations already being put forward by groups such as the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, such as: