HomeMy WebLinkAboutord2021-036Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
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Agenda Bill Master Report
File Number: AB2021-310
File ID: AB2021-310 Version: 1 Status: Adopted
File Created: 05/20/2021 Entered by: MCaldwel@co.whatcom.wa.us
Department: Finance Division File Type: Ordinance
Assigned to: Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee Final Action: 06/15/2021
Agenda Date: 06/15/2021 Enactment #: ORD 2021-036
Primary Contact Email: mcaldwcl@co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Ordinance establishing the American Rescue Plan Act Fund and establishing a budget for the American
Rescue Plan Act Fund
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
Establishes a fund to account for the County's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation and
establishes an initial budget of $1,732,850 to reinstate positions left unfunded due to COVID-19
economic impacts. In addition, the requested budget will fund seven months of operations at the
County's Isolation & Quarantine Facility.
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body:
Action:
Sent To:
06/01/2021 Council SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED Council Finance and
Administrative Services
Committee
Aye: 6 Browne, Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, and Frazey
Nay: 0
Absent: 1 Kershner
06/15/2021 Council Finance and Administrative RECOMMENDED FOR
Services Committee ADOPTION
Aye: 3 Browne, Byrd, and Frazey
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 611612021
Agenda Bill Master Report Continued (AB2021-310)
06/15/2021 Council ADOPTED
Aye: 5 Browne, Buchanan, Donovan, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 2 Byrd, and Elenbaas
Absent: 0
Attachments: Substitute Proposed Ordinance - Introduced 6.1.2021, Exhibit A - ARPA Fund
Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 611612021
PROPOSED BY: Executive
INTRODUCTION DATE: 06/01/2021
ORDINANCE NO. 2021-036
ESTABLISHING THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUND AND ESTABLISHING
A BUDGET FOR THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUND
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2021 President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA)
into law, and
WHEREAS, ARPA is intended to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, including the public health and
economic impacts, and
WHEREAS, ARPA contains $362 billion for Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County will directly receive $44,528,542 in two 50% installments, available
beginning May 2021 with the balance delivered approximately 12 months later, and
WHEREAS, this funding must be used by December 31, 2024 to support public health expenditures,
address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, replace lost public sector
revenue, and invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, and
WHEREAS, the County intends to utilize these funds in 2021 to support the continued efforts of urgent
COVID-19 Public Health response efforts, replace lost public sector revenue, and to rebuild and strengthen
the County's vital public services by retaining, rehiring, and hiring for County jobs to sustain and improve the
post -pandemic level of service provided to the constituents of Whatcom County, and
WHEREAS, the County also intends to work with the community to provide a long-term framework on
how best to utilize this substantial infusion of resources to help turn the tide on the pandemic, provide
economic stabilization and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable economy and public health system,
and
WHEREAS, a new special revenue fund is necessary to properly account for this restricted revenue
source,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that a new fund is hereby
established titled American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Fund. This fund shall be used to account for the revenues
and expenditures related to funding received in accordance with ARPA, and
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the fund is approved with an initial budget of $1,732,850 as
presented in attached Exhibit A.
BE IT FINALLY ORDAINED that no additional monies shall be appropriated from this fund without
prior appromljofit�he�County Council.
m��Af FPT l601 day of June 2021.
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
TCOM W SHINGTON
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Aw
ap,�''Drown-'D', .is burr rr cil Clerk BaB chanan, Chair of the Council
AP:PROV�D A�gAT<9 pRM Approved ( Denied
Approved by emaif/C.QUi�nn/M Caldwell
Civil Deputy`PrdseC6tor Satpal Sidhu, unty Executive
Date:V4 , 10n llnr7j
Supplemental Budget Request status: Pending
Non -Departmental
Supp'1 ID ## 3218 Fund Cost Center Originator: M Caldwell
Year 1 2021 Add'I FTE ❑ Priority
Name of Request: Establish ARPA Fund and Initial Budget
X
Department Head Signature (Required on Hard Copy Submission) Date
Costs:
Object
Object Description
Amount Requested
r 4331.2101
American Recovery Plan Act
($22,264,271)
6320
Office & Op Supplies
$14 OOO
6610
Contractual Services
1
l
$487 000
6870
Space Rental
— --
$390 000
6990
Solid Waste
$1,400
8351
--- ---- — ---
Operating Transfer Out
$840 450
Request Total
($20,531,421)
la. Description of request:
Recognize receipt of first half of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.
Initial uses:
Fund reinstatement of "frozen" positions which were not budgeted in the 2021-2022 biennium due to the
economic impacts of COVID-19.
Fund continued operation of the Byron Street Isolation and Quarantine (IQ) Facility.
1b. Primary customers:
Residents of Whatcom County
2. Problem to be solved:
As a result of the economic impact of the COVID 19 pandemic, 19.5 FTE positions were "frozen" during
the 2021-2022 biennial budget and remained unfilled and unbudgeted. The ARPA specifically encourages
public entities to utilitze this funding to return to normal staffing Ievels.The budget authority requested in
this supplemental will fund the reinstated positions added back in Supplemental #9, supplemental ID #s
3205-3213.
Whatcom County has been funding the IQ Facility since last April out of CARES Act funding. The County
has a continued need for this facility; however CARES Act funding for this service has been exhausted.
This is a qualified use of ARPA funding. This request will fund rent payments, laundry, cleaning, security,
facilities management, SeaMar, Lighthouse Mission, and supplies needed for this facility for March
through Septemeber 2021. The current lease runs through the end of September.
3a. Options /Advantages:
Leave positions "frozen" and unfunded or utilize ARPA to fully fund the positions.
IQ: Use FEMA to partially fund the facility; however, FEMA has more restrictions and is harder to utilize.
ARPA is the more appropriate funding source for this service.
3b. Cost savings:
Costs are completely covered by ARPA funding
4a. Outcomes:
Staffing: Improved county services to taxpayers.
Thursday, M(q 20, 2021 Rpt: Rpt Suuppl Regular
Supplemental Budget Request status: Pending
Non -Departmental
Supp'l ID # Fund Cost Center Originator: M Caldwell
IQ Facility will be fully funded with grant proceeds.
4b. Measures:
5a. Other Departments/Agencies:
All departments with "frozen" positions will return to pre-COVID staffing levels
5b. Name the person in charge of implementation and what they are responsible for:
6. Funding Source:
American Recovery Plan Act
Thursday, 11ap 20, 2021 Rpr: Rpt Suppl Rcg lar