County eyes how to keep federal money

A provision in the recent federal debt ceiling agreement that could put federal COVID relief funds at risk adds an element of urgency to the estimate for renovations to the courthouse, a Trempealeau County committee heard.

The recent agreement to raise the federal debt ceiling includes a provision to take back unspent American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and county executive finance committee members Monday wondered if the legislation could affect money the county has not yet spent. Committee members, for instance, questioned whether the ARPA funds needed to be “spent” or “allocated” to be safe from a federal take back.

The county has earmarked, though not spent, $2.4 million of the just under $6 million in the ARPA funds for justice center overruns. The latest estimate for renovations to the courthouse as offices shift and move into the new justice center is $3 million. 

“We need to get those (renovation numbers) as quick as we can,” said committee member Dave Orsch. 

In addition to the extra justice center costs, $1.6 million of the county’s ARPA allocation has been designated for radio towers, leaving just $1.9 million in federal relief dollars unallocated, well short of the possible $3 million for renovations. There are also $12.1 million in requests from county departments and municipalities hoping to tap the ARPA money. 

Some published reports indicate the take-back would not affect the ARPA money allocated to local governments. 

In other action, the committee named Joseph Quackenboss as the interim director for the county’s Veterans Service office. He succeeds Steve Young who is leaving the position June 16. The county is recruiting for the director position.