The American Rescue Plan Act will award Tompkins County with $20 million and the City of Ithaca with $17 million. But the question remains about how to spend it.
There are usage restrictions set forth by the federal government. The money can be used for directly responding to the public health emergency in the form of assistance to households, small businesses or impacted industries such as tourism, travel and hospitality; responding to workers performing essential work during the public health emergency by providing premium pay to eligible workers; providing government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue due to COVID-19; and making investments in water, sewer or broadband infrastructure.
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County Legislature (District 1)
Travis Brooks is in the running to replace outgoing chair Leslyn McBean-Clairborne, who decided not to run again after spending 20 years as the legislator. Brooks defeated Nicole LaFave by 34 votes, 396-362. Brooks won the first ward 181 votes to LaFaveâs 105, while LaFave was favored in the second ward, 257 votes to Brooksâ 215.
Brooks is the deputy director of the Greater Ithaca Activities Center, where he manages programs focused on education, development and sustainability. Heâs also the director of Ithacaâs My Brotherâs Keeper, a program launched by President Barack Obama designed to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color. He was also heavily involved in the Reimagining Public Safety collaborative between the city and the county, and will continue to serve on the newly created task force to work on the implementation of the plan.
Interim Tompkins County Administrator Lisa Holmes presented an overview of the $19.8 million of one-time American Rescue Plan funds made available to the County, including key dates, restrictions on use of the funds, and options for use of the funding for one-time expenses in the Capital Program at the County Legislature meeting on June 15. Holmes explained that proposals regarding the Capital Program would enable more flexibility in target funding for departments and agencies as well as long-term budget stability and fund balance, while supporting emissions reduction goals that were adjusted during the pandemic.
The presentation outlined the 2021 budget impacts on the County from the pandemic including the elimination of 47 full time equivalent positions (inclusive of 41 retirements), a 6% ($11.5M) reduction in spending, capital program and agency funding cuts and reduced sales tax.
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