American Rescue Plan

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) was signed into law on March 11, 2021, and established the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) to combat the negative public health and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation includes $65.1 billion dollars of flexible aid provided to every county in the United States. Manatee County has received its full award of $78.3 million dollars.

Specifically, the ARP provides that SLFRF funds may be used for the following general purposes:

  • To respond to the public health emergency and its negative economic impact on the community
  • To respond to workers performing essential services during the public health emergency by providing premium pay for eligible workers
  • For the provision of general government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue due to the public health emergency
  • To make necessary investments in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure

To learn more about SLFRF, visit the US Department of the Treasury Website 

With initial assistance from Ernst & Young, Manatee County Government Administration was able to quickly identify key components of the legislation and then guide the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), and County Departments, Agencies, and Programs to engage their extensive, existing community outreach to openly solicit ideas and receive feedback to develop a prospective list of programs, services and capital projects that address the County’s strategic plan to combat the harmful effects of COVID-19 and its negative impact on the community and to promote an equitable economic recovery. The initial roadmap and implementation plan was developed. A community summit meeting and BOCC work sessions and regular meetings further encouraged participation by the general public in person and via community access television to further refine the action plan.

Manatee County demographics illustrate large aging, homeless and transient populations, resulting in a disproportional share of citizens that are most susceptible to COVID-19 and its harmful effects. In addition, because of exceptional year-round weather, the county population regularly swells to greater than 1 million seasonal residents and visitors during the winter months, stretching public health & safety, community, infrastructure, and other services to its capacity. The pandemic and its aftermath have further magnified the demand for those services.

The Beginning

Initially, the BOCC directed SLFRF funds towards mitigating and preventing the spread of COVID-19 and further emphasizing the health and safety of our citizens. As of June 30, 2022, Manatee County had total expenditures of $12.8 million, with 98% of those dollars going towards prioritized public health & safety projects. Key outcome goals of those projects included the mitigation and prevention of positive COVID-19 cases in Manatee County, additional COVID testing and vaccination facilities located in strategic areas across the county, purchasing and deploying more advanced life support (ALS) and basic life support (BLS) ambulances and personnel to reduce EMS response times to our citizens, implementing a public health data system to better identify and respond to emerging disease patterns, purchasing remote 911 call answering equipment that is fully integrated with current call center operations and finally, purchasing new portable radios to increase communication quality with our Sheriff Deputies when responding to active 911 calls. Overall, these projects work towards building a safer, healthier community and a strong, equitable recovery from the pandemic.

Evolution

As the pandemic evolved, the Manatee County Recovery Plan has evolved. Increased population growth in the northern and eastern regions of the county necessitated increasing sewer capacity in Parrish and building a new EMS station and purchasing a new advanced life support ambulance to support the communities around Moccasin Wallow Road. In addition, various stormwater repair projects have begun to address localized flooding issues and SLFRF funds have been directed to install free WIFI-in-the-Park in three county neighborhoods identified as underserved communities, and finally, in collaboration with the Florida Housing Coalition, studies to identify solutions for reducing homelessness have been commissioned.

As of June 30, 2023, Manatee County has spent $16.2 million towards completed or currently active projects with an additional $9.5 million appropriated to complete those currently underway, for a total of $25.7 million or 32.8% of the total ARP grant. Of the $25.7 million, $11.7 million has been spent towards completed Public Health & Safety projects: EMS Rapid Response Vehicles, Sheriff Department Radios, Clinic for COVID-19 Testing and COVID-19 Response(s).

Next Generation

As with other communities across the United States, the pandemic affected the county’s ability to generate and collect expected revenue streams through the normal course of operations. The Guidance from the United States Treasury provides the formula for each jurisdiction to calculate the amount of revenue loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic and for the ability to expand the eligible usage of SLFRF funds. Expanded uses include paying for traditional government services, which may be excluded under other, more restrictive expenditure categories defined by the Guidance. Since 2020, Manatee County’s cumulative loss of revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic was calculated to be $109.5 million as of FYE September 30, 2022. However, as defined by the Guidance, our calculation and ability to use the revenue loss amount is capped at the SLFRF grant award of $78.3 million.

The final strategic use of SLFRF funds addresses the individuals most affected by the loss of operating revenue due to the COVID-19 Pandemic: the essential employees of Manatee County Government. Excluding elected officials and the County Administrator, the remaining $52.6 million of SLFRF funds will be used for FY 2024 payroll expense, to keep Manatee County Government operating departments fully staffed with no service interruptions to the citizens, visitors, and businesses of Manatee County.

The following pie chart illustrates the allocation of total appropriated SLFRF funds ($78,327,168) as of June 30, 2023:

Funding Allocation 

 

Approved Projects (16) as of June 30, 2023:

Public Health & Safety
911 Remote Call Talking
EMS Response SUV
EMS Station House
Public Health Data System
ALS Ambulance EMT Staffing
BLS Ambulances & EMTs
Sheriff Radios
COVID-19 Testing DOH
COVID-19 Response(s)

Community/Infrastructure
Parrish Sewer Expansion
Stormwater Projects
Broadband/WiFi
Assistance for the Homeless

Administration
Ernst & Young
FMD ARP Compliance

Government Services
Payroll

As of June 30, 2023, total expenditures are $16,156,653. The following charts illustrate the actual expenditures made against appropriated Public Health & Safety, Community/Infrastructure, Administration and Government Services projects:

All projects



As of June 30, 2023, total expenditures for Public Health and Safety are $14,635,611:

Public Health/Safety
 

As of June 30, 2023, total expenditures for Administration are $391,492:

Administration
 


As of June 30, 2022, appropriated SLFRF funds for projected Community and Infrastructure Projects are $4,995,152. Expenditures are $1,129,550:

Community/Infrastructure 


The following chart illustrates the approved projects with appropriated funds, project to date expenditures and remaining balances as of June 30, 2023:

Approved Projects as of June 30, 2023
 

To view the full 2021-2023 SLFRF Recovery Plan Performance Reports, please click the following links:

2021 SLFRF Recovery Plan Performance Report
2022 SLFRF Recovery Plan Performance Report
2023 SLFRF Recovery Plan Performance Report