Effingham County finance panel reviews ARPA projects, flags $38,000 unallocated ahead of August deadline

The Effingham County Finance Committee on Monday reviewed the status of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocations and flagged about $38,000 that remains unearmarked as the county approaches spending deadlines.

Committee Chair (unnamed) told members that while many projects are moving forward, ‘‘there’s $38,000 that has not been earmarked for a particular use’’ and urged committees and department heads to identify candidate projects to absorb remaining funds. The committee discussed an August–September timeline for decisions to avoid losing or having to reallocate funds.

Courtney, who provided the committee’s childcare update, said the contractor CFS ‘‘have found a site director and are moving forward with getting their hired’’ and that interior renovations have delayed the start of services; she said the project’s new service start date is June 3 and that bids are being gathered for an outdoor playground. On the county’s GAP scholarship program, Courtney said applications have averaged about one per month (four approved, four denied), which—at that pace—may leave a significant balance in the $145,000 allotment.

Members reviewed specific line items still listed in committee materials: Career Academy ($49,500), airport improvements ($900), and a reported $3,200 remaining for the Special Response Team. The chair said townships with road-and-bridge allocations that have not reported exact plans may require reallocation of funds if plans are not finalized by the county deadline.

The committee also discussed larger capital requests that could be funded with ARPA or capital-improvement money, including a proposed county morgue and expanded animal-control kennels. A committee member urged the coroner to provide ‘‘hard numbers’’ on building and operating costs; members noted operating costs such as cooler power and insurance will need separate budgeting if the county assumes responsibility for a morgue. Several members said a modest pole-building-style facility was being considered rather than an elaborate structure.

The committee recommended that subcommittees and department heads compile specific, prioritized project lists so the Finance Committee can revisit reallocation options and forward recommendations to the Capital Improvement Advisory Committee and the full board as needed. No formal reallocations were approved at the meeting; members recorded voice votes on motions but did not take roll-call tallies.

What’s next: committee members plan to revisit ARPA balances and prioritized projects in coming months and will ask groups with outstanding funds to send representatives to full-board meetings to report progress.