Clay Co. Mayor Dale Reagan: ARP Spending Plan Wants Up To Commission

Local governments have begun the process to apply for federal American Rescue Plan funding by submitting spending plans.

Clay County Mayor Dale Reagan said that one of the main thing auditors wanted was for the county to direct which way they plan to go with spending its $3.1 million. He said the preliminary spending plan recently approved plan by the county commission includes HVAC upgrades and solid waste department needs.

“We can’t pay debt with it nor can we build it up for a rainy day fund to make the budget look good every year,” Reagan said. “It’s put in there for a purpose for it to be spent and hopefully to help limit the burden that was caused by the pandemic.”

Reagan said they limped along for several years with several projects that the county will now be able to address through these funds. Reagan said it is up to the commission for final approval on each individual item it would like to put funding towards.

Reagan said the ARP spending planning process has “scared him to death” because there are so many rules and stipulations that could result in the county having to pay back the money. He said Mark Farley and the Upper Cumberland Development District have been instrumental in helping him weed through the information.

Reagan said because Clay County falls under a $10 million threshold, the county can claim revenue loss as dictated by the Department of Treasury.