DeLand, FL - Volusia County Council members had a 15-page list of projects to go through today (August 31) to determine how to spend the funds available from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CLFRF), and ARPA Transition Fund, which total about $107.5 million.
One issue brought up by District 3 Representative Danny Robins is to allow landlords to get funding to file evictions. County Manager George Recktenwald said he did not think that would qualify for this funding. Having funding available for rental assistance for landlords could be done, according to Community Services Director Dona Butler. "We've already started excepting applications from landlords. I think we're up to about 30. They do have to get all the information from their tenant but we are accepting applications directly."
Other issues include the purchase of water goats to help keep waterways clean, a request to purchase a new building and have it retrofitted for veterans staying at the Barracks of Hope shelter, a request from Angie Pye from the Beacon Center to address the increase of domestic violence cases during COVID-19, and money for signup bonuses for Fire, EMT, and corrections personnel.
Jeremy Karaginis, President of the Firefighters Association Local 3574, said that their fund suffered a $1,000,000 loss due to last year's rollback. In addition, the fire fund did not receive any money from the first round of CARES funds to assist with the shortfall and is currently not included for any relief with ARPA funds. "With an exhausted EMS system, overstressed firefighter-paramedics, and a labor union ready to work through problems, an allocation of ARPA funds would kill two birds with one stone. We desperately need a shift-relief factor, station updates, and relocations that are forecast for our growth."
Today was just a discussion of what to do with the funding. Council members will address the issue again during the September 7 public hearing on the tentative budget that begins after a recess of the meeting at 6 p.m.
Find out more about the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 at home.treasury.gov.
