American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) on March 11, 2021, following Congress’s passage of the legislation. The $1.9 trillion package is intended to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Treasury Department issued Interim Final Guidance in May 2021 and closed the 60-day public comment period in July 2021. The final information contained below is based on the Interim Final Guidance and may be amended with the issuance of the Final Guidance.

Included with the ARPA is the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund totaling $362 billion to aid states, local governments, tribal governments, and U.S. territories. These funds can be used for:

• Support of Public Health Response,
• Replace Public Sector Revenue Loss,
• Investment in Water, Sewer, or Broadband Infrastructure,
• Premium Pay for Those Doing Essential Work, and
• Assistance to Households, Small businesses, non-profits, and aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality.

As mentioned above, Dallas County may use ARPA fund to Replace Public Sector Revenue Loss. These "Revenue Recovery Funds" must be used for the following purposes:

• Maintenance or pay-go funding building of infrastructure,
• Modernization of Cybersecurity,
• Health Services,
• School or Educational Services,
• Environmental Remediation, and/or
• Provision of Police, Fire, and Other Public Safety Services.

Revenue Recovery Funds cannot be used for:

• Debt,
• Settlements or Judgements,
• Reserves,
• Pensions, and/or
• Non-Federal Match Where Barred.