COLUMBUS, Ind. — Bartholomew County government received $16 million last spring from the federal “American Relief Plan” for COVID-19 expenses and losses. An additional $16.2 million is expected later this year.
But only 11% of the first $16 million had been spent by the end of 2021, according to figures compiled by the office of Bartholomew County Auditor Pia O’Connor.
Much of that money will be spent later this year, county officials said. Final commitments have already been made or will be firmed up shortly, county officials said. Payments from the ARP funds will be made after projects are completed.
In addition, the federal government has expanded the scope of how the federal dollars can be spent, O’Connor said. Her remarks came as she gave an overview of 2021 ARP spending and reserves as of Dec. 31.
The county set aside $1 million in the funding to obtain a new headquarters for the nursing division of the Bartholomew County Health Department on Foxpointe Drive. That new facility is now occupied, and all but $169,760 has been spent, the auditor’s report states.
The installation of information technology capabilities into the new nursing facility was budgeted at $100,000, but only $297 had been spend by the end of last year. While $300,000 has been earmarked for a health department mobile unit, no funds have yet been spent for that purpose.
Of the $600,000 set aside for additional health department staff, only $1,483 had been spent by the end of last month. But the health department just announced the hiring of two registered nurses on a contractual basis.
And finally, only $45,692 of the $1 million that is supposed to be spent on vaccine clinics has been spent.
For the complete story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
