Bristol set to get millions in federal aid

How much, when, and how the money cab be spent remain to be seen

By Christy Nadalin
Posted 3/31/21

If you’re waiting for your stimulus check to appear in your bank account, you’re not alone. Bristol is waiting, too. Unlike most recipients who are anticipating checks for $1,400, the …

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Bristol set to get millions in federal aid

How much, when, and how the money cab be spent remain to be seen

Posted

If you’re waiting for your stimulus check to appear in your bank account, you’re not alone. Bristol is waiting, too. Unlike most recipients who are anticipating checks for $1,400, the Town is not yet certain how big a windfall is coming its way, but it’s going to be substantial.

The 628-page American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) includes many funding streams, some going to states, others to municipalities, and still others directly to school districts. One stream, the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, is going to be allocated based on the demographics of a city or town, with most Rhode Island municipalities expecting between $96 and $100 per resident. With an allocation of $98 and a population of 22,234, Bristol is expecting $2,170,000.

But wait, there’s more.

Another stash of $205 million will be allocated solely on population numbers without regard to demographics. That number, though not known at press time, is thought to be close to $195 per person, which would add nearly $4.3 million more to town coffers.

In addition, the plan will send $415 million to Rhode Island K-12 schools. The state will retain some of that, but the majority is required to be distributed directly to local districts, some of which will be coming to the Bristol Warren Regional School District.

But that’s not all.

Hundreds of millions more dollars are coming to Rhode Island for renters and homeowners, capital projects, colleges, and child care, much of which will directly benefit the community.

While CARES Act funding was allocated specifically toward pandemic relief and had to be used or lost by the end of December, local governments will have more flexibility when it comes to making spending and allocation decisions — and at least a couple of years to make those decisions — which is, in part, why they did not figure into conversations during FY 2022 budget workshops.

Until the town has federal-level guidance on exact amounts and what sort of restrictions might be placed on spending, local leaders are resisting making any plans with money they do not yet have in hand. As of press time, Town Administrator Steven Contente was hoping to have have more information by the end of the week. Council President Nathan Calouro has said that, regardless of the amount and any restrictions, conversations between the administrator and the council with regards to spending the funds will be held publicly and transparently.

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