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Federal Funding
Overview
Since March 2020, the City of Boerne has been awarded several rounds of federal funding, along with other municipalities, school districts, and government organizations. Much of it has come from funds tied to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in late 2021 also represents an opportunity for the City to apply for federal funds in the future months.
To date, the City of Boerne has received federal funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
This webpage is designed to help our residents understand how the City of Boerne allocated our share of federal funds and explain the limitations placed on it by Congress, the Treasury Department, and the State of Texas.
CARES Funding
The City of Boerne was limited in how it could spend and receive federal funding tied to the CARES Act. Below is a breakdown of how Boerne and other Texas cities could spend these federal funds.
- Medical expenses
- Public Health expenses
- Payroll expenses for public safety, public health, health care, human services, and similar employees whose services are substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency
- Expenses for actions to facilitate compliance with COVID-19 related public health measures
- Expenses associated with the provision of economic support in connection with the COVID-19 public health emergency
- Any other COVID-19 related expenses reasonably necessary to the function of government that satisfy the Fund’s eligibility criteria
The State of Texas required that any draw on reimbursement had to fit their 75%/25% restriction. That meant that 75% was spent in categories 1-3 and 25% was spent in categories 4-6. The City of Boerne received $929,060 from the CARES Act and was required to spend it by Dec. 31, 2021.
The funds were spent on increasing COVID-19 safety protocols in City facilities, the payroll expenses for public safety personnel, contact tracing, PPE purchases, providing COVID-19 testing, and COVID-19 community vaccine events which administered more than 12,000 COVID-19 vaccines.
ARPA Funding
Upon passage in March 2021 of the American Rescue Plan Act, $350 billion in emergency funding was made available for state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to remedy the difference between rising costs and falling revenues.
The Rescue Plan was provided to state, local, and Tribal governments to enable them to continue to support the public health response and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable economic recovery. It also provides resources for state, local, and Tribal governments to invest in infrastructure, including water, sewer, and broadband services.
The City of Boerne was allocated $4.5 million in ARPA funds. By federal statute the funds must be obligated by December 31, 2024, and expended by December 31, 2026.
The City of Boerne is identifying infrastructure projects that qualify under the guidelines set by Congress and the Treasury Department.
Infrastructure Jobs Funding
As of winter 2021, the City of Boerne is awaiting additional guidance on how funding through this program will be made available to municipalities and other government entities.