Hinds County Board of Supervisors faces a task like never before: Determining how to use the $22.5 million the county received from the American Rescue Plan.
“We have it in the bank,” said District Supervisor Robert Graham
The amount of funding is historic.
“It’s the largest allocation of funds to Hinds County in the history of Hinds County,” he said. “Hinds County is 200 years old.”
The county will receive another $22.5 million in 12 months, he said, praising President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Congressman Bennie Thompson for their role in passing the American Rescue Plan.
“I also want to credit our board president Credell Calhoun who has worked hard to make sure we get these funds and stay on top of things,” Graham said.
State and local governments may use the federal money for public health, including efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, according to the U.S. Treasury. They may use it to address economic problems that the pandemic has caused for workers, households, small businesses, industries and government. They also may use some of the money to replace tax revenue that was lost because of the pandemic and to provide extra pay for essential workers. Improvements to water and sewer systems and expansion of broadband access are also approved uses.
States may not use the money to cut taxes, shore up pension funds or rainy-day funds, make payments on long-term debt or pay off legal settlements.
Graham said he would like some of the funds to be used to give essential workers extra pay and to equip county buildings to protect employees and others from COVID-19.
“I don’t think Covid is gone by any means,” Graham said. “We have to consider adding ventilation systems and planning for social distancing.”
Another good use of the funds, Graham said, would be to facilitate vaccinations and to encourage additional citizens to get the vaccine, he said.
Funds received from the American Rescue Plan must be used by June 2024.
Because of a federal rental assistance program, Hinds County received $7 million to provide emergency rental assistance to low income households that experienced hardships due to Covid. In addition, the county received another $5 million that will also provide rental assistance for landlords and tenants, Graham said.
The Hinds County Emergency Rental Aid Program is available for anyone impacted by the pandemic and who is experiencing housing instability and whose household income is at or below 80 percent of the area median family income.
An application for rental assistance may be submitted online by an eligible tenant or a landlord can initiate an application on behalf of a tenant. The program has funding available for post-due rent after March 13, 2020 to the present and possibly three months into the future.
To learn more, call the Hinds County Rental Aid hotline at 601-514-0137, email help@hindsrentalaid.com or refer to hindsrentalaid.com.
Graham said he hopes that a federal infrastructure bill will be passed that will provide funds the county could use to pay for paving streets and repairing bridges.
