County receives rescue plan bucks

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
Citing a lack of guidance on spending, the Weston County Commission plans to hold on to the money provided by the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. 
Weston County has received the first of two $672,000 payments. In total, the county will receive $1.3 million in funding. 
“This is a nightmare to try and figure out,” said Commissioner Ed Wagoner on June 15, referring to the guidelines for spending the federal dollars. He noted that the county had plenty of time, years in fact, to determine what to do with the funds. 
With little guidance on spending protocols, Chairman Marty Ertman said, she would like to see the funds continue to be held in an interest-bearing account. 
The $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden allocated $350 million for state, local and tribal governments to aid in recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. 
County Treasurer Susie Overman warned the commissioners that whatever funding wasn’t spent would have to be sent back, noting that spending the money incorrectly could also result in repayment.