Lexington County has $10M in recovery funds left to spend

Posted 2/6/23

Lexington County has allocated most of the $58 million in American Rescue Plan recovery funds it has received, according to a summary acquired by the Chronicle from county officials.

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Lexington County has $10M in recovery funds left to spend

Posted

Lexington County has allocated most of the $58 million in American Rescue Plan recovery funds it has received, according to a summary acquired by the Chronicle from county officials.

Recent allocations were made to the county’s Emergency Preparedness services for several emergency response vehicles and two ambulances. The fire department was allocated approximately $12 million for upgrades at two stations, and for the acquisition of four fire engine pumpers.

County officials said an allocation of $10 million listed in the summary as “loss revenue” was for “capital expenses,” which are allowed by American Rescue Plan guidelines. It remains to be seen what those expenses will be.

The summary also listed the allocation of nearly $2 million to the Irmo-Chapin Saluda River Walkway project. When completed, the project will offer riverside walking trails all the way from Lake Murray to Columbia.

The county still has $10,862,352 remaining. 

Council Member Scott Whetstone, who served as council chair during the past year when most of the funds were allocated, said the use of the remaining funds has not been decided.

Lexington County Council had already approved $575,000 to nonprofits and $4.7 million to county employee benefits. The nonprofits, the Big Red Barn and the Midlands Fatherhood Coalition, each received $175,000.

Lexington County was allocated the recovery funds as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, a $1.9 trillion stimulus bill Congress passed in March 2021. South Carolina is getting about $8.8 billion of those funds, with $1.6 billion directed to local governments, including counties, cities and other municipalities.

Lexington County’s towns and cities have also received recovery funds.

According to published reports, the city of Lexington received $11 million. West Columbia received $9 million and Cayce received $3.4 million. Chapin reported an American Rescue Plan fund balance of $729,559 in December.

Most local governments have allocated their recovery funds to employee benefits, according to published reports. 

lexington county council, american rescue plan sc, columbia recovery funds

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