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Request to Utilize American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds for County Reimbursement of Denied Expenses Related to Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Associated Budget Resolution (Amount: $261,228.87)
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BRIEF OVERVIEW
Hernando County received a total of $37,666,688.00 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds over two installments, one in 2021 and the next in 2022. Funds were required to be obligated by December 31, 2024.
Previous Board direction allocated $2,957,496.00 of ARPA funds to provide Emergency Relief from Natural Disasters (Agenda items 14935,15155,16613).
To date the Board has approved $2,696,267.13 of the Emergency Relief for various purposes including:
Ridge Manor Field Restoration: $152,476.00
Hardening of Eastside Elementary Cafeteria: $1,227,670.00
FEMA required match: $460,097.06
Waterways modular building: $84,084.00
Reimbursement of citizen tipping fees waiver: $771,940.07
Today’s agenda item is to request BOCC approval for expenditure of the remainder of funds obligated to Disaster Relief in the amount of $261,228.87. Staff recommends the remaining funds be allocated to reimburse the County for claims denied by FEMA for costs incurred during Hurricanes Helene and Milton in the amount of $261,228.87.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVES
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FINANCIAL IMPACT
Attached budget resolution reallocates funding to the remaining Board approved ARPA projects.
LEGAL NOTE
The Board has the authority to act on this matter pursuant to Chapter 125, Florida Statutes.
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board approve the use of $261,228.87 in ARPA funding to reimburse the County for costs incurred during Hurricanes Helene and Milton and for which FEMA has issued denials.
It is further recommended the BOCC authorize the Chairman’s signature on the attached budget resolution realigning ARPA funds to coincide with the BOCC approved uses of ARPA funds obligated for Emergency Relief.