After three years the Kandiyohi County commissioners have nearly $300,000 in federal pandemic funding still on hand burning a hole in their pocket. Just one problem. They need to come up with ways to use it by December 31 or else the unthinkable happens. If they don’t use it, they lose it and the cash flows back to Washington.
As the West Central Tribune points out, returning the funds wasn’t considered a viable option at the county’s recent board meeting. Yet at the same time, there was no to-do list of pressing projects on which to spend the unexpected windfall.
To avoid that fate, county staff requested board approval allocating the remaining $296,286 to county projects at the discretion of the administrator.
“I would be asking the board to approve that recommendation so that we have time to figure out how we could best use the remaining dollars,” said Kandiyohi County Administrator Kelsey Baker. The board unanimously approved the recommendation, though commissioners did request the entire board have the opportunity to be involved in making the final decisions about just where the money would be going.
The western Minnesota county received a total of $8.3 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, $6.3 million of which went to expanding broadband access in the rural area. The board’s dilemma arose when the broadband project wound up spending $262,528 less than budgeted, resulting in the surplus funds going back to the county. There was also nearly $34,000 left unspent after spending other pandemic funds on a hodgepodge of projects, including a lobbyist.
Over the last few years, in addition to the broadband projects, the county has used its American Rescue Plan Act allocation to fund a grant writer and federal lobbyist, a comprehensive land use plan, park projects, housing trust fund, equipment for Public Works and the Sheriff’s Office and county technology upgrades. After those projects, the county still had $33,758 remaining to obligate.
The clock continues to wind down to the end of the year deadline. But the commissioners appear more than up to the task of spending down the windfall.
“We haven’t had very many opportunities for some of these small projects, like an ambulance donation or Hawk Creek (Animal Shelter),” [Commissioner Roger] Imdieke said.
Baker assured the commissioners that she would be working with them, and county staff, to spend the money.
“I’m incredibly open to that,” Baker said.
After all, it is Christmas.