By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
An overlooked ARPA expenditure caused Decatur City Council to due some financial juggling at its last meeting, but in the end no money was lost and all budgeted items were covered.
Clerk-Treasurer Kevin Hackman told council at that meeting that he had overlooked an expenditure of ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds used to purchase dump truck equipment in July.
So, basically, the city’s ARPA pot was a bit lighter than thought.
Meanwhile, $18,386 in funding for police pensions in 2025 was trimmed by the state Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF). In order to cover that, the city’s remaining ARPA funds will be used.
It was also decided that money from the city’s Rainy Day Fund will cover the cost of the dump truck equipment, as well as the repaving of the MERIT Center parking lot, a project not yet started.
ARPA funds were distributed by the federal government throughout the country in 2021 to aid relief efforts in the wake of the pandemic. Decatur received approximately $1.2 million.
All ARPA funds need to be allocated by the end of this year. Any of those monies not allocated by then will revert back to the federal government.
ANOTHER YEAR: The board of works and safety has approved a one-year extension on the lease at the MERIT Center for Connor Brite’s Wildflowers.
The organization provides free instruction of musical instruments to young people who reside in Adams County.
Wildflowers pays $450 a month, $5,400 a year, for the use of its music room, where lessons are given and instruments are stored.
“They’ve been great tenants,” City Attorney Anne Baker said.
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