Sebastian has $3.3 million in federal pandemic funds and lots of ideas how to spend it
SEBASTIAN — There's no shortage of ideas for how the city should spend its allocation from the federal American Rescue Plan. Some suggest hiring a part-time employee to oversee human services while others want money spent on storm water problems.
But there's only $3.32 million to go around.
The City Council Wednesday held the first of two meetings to get input from residents about how to spend the pandemic-relief money.
About $1.66 million already has been received by the city, with the second payment scheduled due May 19.
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The council on July 14 was to consider using the money for $5,000 bonuses to city staff for their work during the pandemic until the public pushed back and Councilman Bob McPartlan complained he'd had no input into the proposal. Former Mayor Ed Dodd, who's still on the council, tabled the discussion, suggesting the public workshop.
However, there are limitations on how the funds can be used, city Administrative Services Director Ken Killgore told the council Wednesday, and spending must fit into revised federal guidelines. American Rescue Act Plan funds, he said,can be used for COVID-19 emergency response; premium pay to essential workers; recovery of lost revenues; and certain infrastructure projects.
“We must do things that are within the rules,” Killgore said. “We can’t expose ourselves to having the Treasury come back and say we have to pay (the funds) back.”
Resident Susan Lorusso, a city former employee, said the funds should go to current employees who worked hard during the pandemic.
“The city employees have been through a lot,” said Lorusso. “And while I didn’t work here during the pandemic, I can just imagine what they must have been going through with you’re closed, you’re open, you’re masked, you’re not masked. I know there’s a big laundry list of projects that should get done in the city and it needs to get done, but please don’t forget your employees. They really deserve a little boost during this time.”
Graham Cox argued for hiring a part-time employee to handle quality-of-life issues such as medical services and mental health services, food security and affordable housing. Storm water projects need funding, too, he said, but the money would be better spent on human services.
McPartlan, who offered a fiscally conservative message when the item was first brought up in July, said it is a difficult discussion because it involves more than $3 million.
“If I say nothing to the workers, I’m the bad guy,” said McPartlan. “But what are our top priorities? Is storm water a problem for the city of Sebastian or is it not a problem? If we’re not going to put money toward that, then I don’t want to hear that we care about storm water anymore. I’ve heard that as long as I’ve been up here.”
Just because rescue funds aren’t used for employee bonuses, he stressed, doesn’t mean the council doesn’t care about workers.
“There are a lot of things that need to be done in the city, especially over the next few years,” McPartlan said. “Inflation’s going up, every project we do in the city is costing more. I love hearing some concrete ideas that we can look at because we have to look at our priorities and allocate it that way.”
Janet Begley is a local freelance writer. If you like articles like this and other TCPalm coverage of Treasure Coast news, please support our journalism and subscribe now.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Sebastian has lots of ideas for spending $3.3 million in pandemic funds
